Contact Us

secretary@tcibc.org
(649)-946-4650

Office

2nd floor, St Johns House,
Leeward Highway, Providenciales,
Turks and Caicos Islands

Kenisha L. Bacchus

Kenisha L Bacchus is a Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Gold Awardee and Leadership Awardee. She is UK Chevening Scholarship Alumni (2014/2015) with extensive legal, anti-money laundering, and financial regulatory experience spanning over twenty years. She is a lawyer and has been admitted to practice law in the Turks & Caicos Islands Bar and St. Vincent & Grenadines. Mrs. Bacchus is currently the Deputy Managing Director of the TCI Financial Services Commission. She joined the TCI Government in 2001 as Crown Counsel within the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Commission in 2004 heading AML/CFT Compliance. Kenisha regularly speaks and provides training at various local and international supervisory and industry forums. She has also served as an expert assessor for the OECD Global Forum on the Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes and the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).

Kenisha holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) specialising in International Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation. She also holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB Hons) and a Legal Education Certificate. She is a Fellow of the International Compliance Association (FICA).

Murray Snider

Secretary, Turks and Caicos Islands Bar Association

Murray Snider was appointed Secretary of the Turks and Caicos Islands Bar Association in April 2025. In this capacity, he oversees the administrative functions of the Bar Council, ensuring communication among members, record-keeping, and the execution of the Council's initiatives.

As a legal practitioner with international experience, Murray’s appointment reflects the Council’s confidence in his organizational skills, attention to detail, and strong commitment to upholding the values of professionalism and service within the Bar.

In addition to administrative duties, Murray supports committee operations and assists in implementing new initiatives to modernize systems and member engagement. Known for his collegial spirit and pragmatic outlook, Murray is a key point of contact between the Bar Association and its members.

Professionally, Murray is a Senior Associate Attorney at Griffiths & Partners Attorneys, where he maintains a broad corporate and commercial litigation practice.

Arnelle Taylor-Hall

Vice President, Turks and Caicos Islands Bar
Association Partner, Wessex Fairchild Attorneys

Arnelle Taylor-Hall is the Vice President of the Turks and Caicos Islands Bar Association and a partner of Wessex Fairchild Attorneys. Her legal practice focuses on banking and finance, corporate and commercial law, conveyancing, and private client services. She serves as retained counsel to several trust companies and financial institutions, advising on secured lending, corporate structuring, and transactional matters.

Mrs. Taylor-Hall also serves as a Senior Member of the Turks and Caicos Islands Labour Tribunal, where she brings balanced legal judgment and a thoughtful approach to decision-making, reflecting her ongoing commitment to integrity and sound reasoning in the resolution of employment disputes.

As Vice President of the Bar Council, Mrs. Taylor-Hall plays a pivotal role in shaping legal reform, governance practices, and professional development within the jurisdiction. She currently chairs the Bar Council’s Education and Training Committee, which leads the development of the national Continuing Professional Development (CPD) framework, supports aspiring legal professionals, and coordinates legal training initiatives in partnership with the Ministry of Education.

Her leadership is defined by fairness, foresight, and inclusivity. She is a strong advocate for gender equity in the legal profession and is deeply invested in youth mentorship and legal capacity building.

Mrs. Taylor-Hall earned her legal education in the United Kingdom and is called to the Bar of England and Wales (Middle Temple) and the Bar of the Turks and Caicos Islands. She continues to mentor young lawyers and law students, fostering a culture of service, excellence, and lifelong learning.

Above all, Arnelle Taylor-Hall is a tireless advocate for the continued development of the legal profession and the strengthening of justice systems in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Her work reflects a deep sense of duty to both the law and the community it serves.

Mark A. Fulford

Mark Anthony Fulford currently serves as President of the Bar Council of the Turks and Caicos Islands Bar Association, having been unanimously elected by his peers in March 2025. In this capacity, he leads the legal profession through a pivotal chapter of renewal and transformation—guided by his vision for transparency, inclusivity, accountability, and institutional advancement.

As President, Mr. Fulford is championing a series of ambitious but deliverable initiatives, including the establishment of clear rules of procedure for Bar governance; a modern digital presence for the Association; secure Practicing Licence Cards; improving communication through regular circulars; strengthening international linkages; expanding continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities; and guiding the completion of long-overdue legislative reforms, including the finalisation of the Legal Profession Ordinance. His tenure also prioritizes the establishment of a permanent Secretariat and physical headquarters for the Association—objectives that will secure the Bar’s operational future.

Professionally, Mr. Fulford is the Managing Partner of the award-winning law firm F Chambers Attorneys, based in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. With a dynamic career spanning law, public policy, and advocacy, he is widely recognized for his expertise in inward investment, corporate structuring, real estate, immigration, development, employment law, and litigation.

He is a proud alumnus of the University of Buckingham Law School, where he served as President of the Law Society and became the first Turks and Caicos Islander to receive the prestigious Merit Prize Award.

Mr. Fulford's public service background includes senior advisory roles to successive Premiers of the Turks and Caicos Islands, as well as service as Chief of Staff to the first Premier. His deep understanding of government relations makes him a sought-after advisor on legislative matters involving business licensing, human rights, planning, and regulatory reform.

An accomplished litigator, Mr. Fulford has appeared before every level of court in the Turks and Caicos Islands, including the Magistrate’s Court, Labour Tribunal, Supreme Court, and Court of Appeal. He has also appeared before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London, defending the constitutional rights of elected officials in one of the country’s most consequential constitutional cases.

His legislative experience includes chairing the Bar’s Legislative Committee and leading the Advocates Legal Group—the largest body of legal aid attorneys in the country. He is also a member of the International Bar Association, where he sits on the Law Firm Management Committee.

He has advised three successive governments in the Turks and Caicos Islands, including service as Chief of Staff to the first Premier, advisor to the second, and legal counsel to the third Premier’s TCI–Canada Trade Mission. He was also legal advisor to the Special Envoy to the House of Lords during the 2009 constitutional crisis.

In his regulatory and public service roles, Mr. Fulford chairs the National Health Appeals Tribunal, the appellate body that hears grievances by contributors to the National Health Insurance Plan against decisions of the NHIP or its CEO. He previously chaired the National Health Insurance Board, where he successfully led a comprehensive reform agenda approved for national implementation.

Mr. Fulford is the founding Chairman of United Way Turks and Caicos Islands, leading a 15-member Board focused on literacy, youth employment, crime prevention, and elder care. He also served as Vice President of the Premier’s Cup Charity Golf Tournament, which has raised nearly $500,000 for local causes.

A passionate advocate for both law and sport, Mr. Fulford is the Vice President of the Turks and Caicos Islands Golf Association where he led the National Golf Team to three consecutive championship victories at the Caribbean Classic Golf Tournament, hosted annually by the Caribbean Golf Association (CGA).

Above all, he is driven by a belief in service, justice, and national development. When not championing reform or representing clients, he is an avid golfer, devoted family man, and proud husband and father to two daughters and a son.

KERCHELLE E. BAIN

Kerchelle E. Bain is a practising Attorney and Certified Mediator in the Turks and Caicos Islands. She has experience in a variety of practice areas but currently focuses on Family, Property and Dispute Resolution matters. She was appointed Secretary to the Bar Council in 2018 where she served until her election to member in April 2021.

DESIREE DOWNES

Desiree Downes hails from Guyana. She is an Attorney-at-Law called to the Guyana Bar on 22 October 1999.

Ms. Downes holds a Degree in Public Management and av Bachelor of Laws Degree, both obtained from the University of Guyana, Guyana; a Legal Education Certificate obtained from the Hugh Wooding Law School, Trinidad and Tobago; and a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Drafting Legislation, Regulation and Policy from the University of London, School of Advanced Study (Institute of Advanced Legal Studies), United Kingdom.

Desiree is the Principal Legislative Drafter in the Attorney General’s Chambers, Turks and Caicos Islands, where she bears responsibility for the work of the Legislative Drafting Division. She began her legal career in the Attorney General’s Chambers, Guyana as State Counsel in 1999. She also served as Senior Legislative Drafter for a brief period in the Attorney General’s Chambers, Bahamas. In 2013 Desiree received an honorary MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) award from Her Majesty the Queen for her services to legislative drafting in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

She is a Caribbean Financial Action Task Force trained anti-money laundering and prevention of the financing of terrorism assessor.

Ms. Downes serves as the Attorney General’s representative on the Bar Council.

JERWINA TAYLOR

Jerwina Taylor is a graduate of Oxford Brookes University,where she obtained her law degree (LLB Hons) in 2012. She was admitted to the Turks and Caicos Bar as an Attorney in 2014. Jerwina is an Associate at Karam & Missick Attorneys, where her principal areas of practice include debt recovery, personal injury, employment, family and probate. She is an elected member of the TCI Bar Council for the term 2018/ 19. Jerwina also serves as Chair of the TCI Junior Bar Committee.

Shayone Handfield-Gardiner

Attorney General’s Representative, Turks and Caicos Islands Bar Council
Principal Crown Counsel – International Division, Attorney General’s Chambers

Shayone Handfield-Gardiner serves as the Attorney General’s appointed representative on the Turks and Caicos Islands Bar Council, bringing a wealth of legal experience, public service, and international acumen to the governance of the legal profession.

She currently holds the post of Principal Crown Counsel for the International Division at the Attorney General’s Chambers, where she is responsible for managing complex legal issues relating to international law, bilateral and multilateral agreements, regional integration, and public international legal matters. In this capacity, she frequently represents the Turks and Caicos Islands in regional and international forums and plays a vital role in safeguarding the legal interests of the government on the global stage.

Mrs. Handfield-Gardiner is deeply committed to the development of the legal profession in the Turks and Caicos Islands and actively contributes to law reform and public policy modernization through her advisory role within the government. As a member of the Bar Council, she lends strategic insight and legal precision to matters of governance, continuing professional development, and institutional capacity building.

Throughout her career in public law, she has championed initiatives related to good governance, treaty implementation, legislative compliance, and intergovernmental cooperation. Her contributions reflect her strong belief in the rule of law, justice, and the importance of professional excellence within the legal sector.

Known for her thoughtful approach, professionalism, and collaborative spirit, Mrs. Handfield-Gardiner brings a vital governmental perspective to the Council’s deliberations and plays an integral role in advancing the shared objectives of the Bar Association and the public legal service.

She holds legal qualifications from the United Kingdom and the Caribbean and is a proud member of both the local and regional legal community.

The Constitution of the

Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2011 (“the Constitution Order”) was made by Her Majesty the Queen pursuant to Sections 5 and 7 of the West Indies Act 1962 on 13th of July 2011. Schedule 2 of the Constitution Order is the Constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Bar Council, as an independent statutory body, is committed to upholding the Constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the administration of justice in the Islands. In particular, the Bar Council is committed to the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual (Part 1 of the Constitution):

    “Whereas every person in the Islands is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, the right, without distinction of any kind, such as race, national or social origin, political or other opinion, colour, religion, language, creed, association with a national minority, property, sex, sexual orientation, birth or other status, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest, to each and all of the following, namely:

  • life, liberty, security of the person and protection of the law;
  • freedom of conscience, of expression and of assembly and association; and
  • protection for his or her private and family life, the privacy of his or her home and other property and from deprivation of property save in the public interest and on payment of fair compensation,

    • the subsequent provisions of this Part shall have effect for the purpose of affording protection to the aforesaid rights and freedoms, and related rights and freedoms, subject to limitations of that protection as are contained in those provisions, being limitations designed to ensure that the enjoyment of the said protected rights and freedoms by any individual does not prejudice the rights and freedoms of others or the public interest.”

Those fundamental rights and freedom of the individual are:

  • Protection of right to life
  • Protection from inhuman treatment
  • Protection from slavery and forced labour
  • Protection from arbitrary arrest or detention
  • Provisions to secure protection of law
  • Equality before the law
  • Protection of right of prisoners to humane treatment
  • Protection for family life and for privacy of home and other property
  • Protection of right to marry and found a family
  • Protection of freedom of expression
  • Protection of right to education
  • Protection of freedom of expression
  • Protection of freedom of assembly and association
  • Protection of freedom of movement
  • Protection from discrimination
  • Peaceful enjoyment of property and protection from deprivation of property
  • Protection of the environment
  • Lawful administrative action by Government

A copy of the Constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands may be downloaded here:

Download the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution

Legislation of the

Turks and Caicos Islands

As a British Overseas Territory, some Acts of Parliament of the United Kingdom apply to the Turks and Caicos Islands, including:

  • Judicial Committee Act 1833
  • Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands Act 1958
  • West Indies Act 1962
  • British Nationality Act 1981
  • British Overseas Territories Act 2002
  • Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018

Many Orders in Council of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom and Statutory Instruments of Parliament of the United Kingdom also apply in the Turks and Caicos Islands, such as the Caribbean Territories (Criminal Law) Order 2000.

Legislation of the United Kingdom can generally be found here: www.legislation.gov.uk

Turks and Caicos legislation (called Ordinances) is passed by the House of Assembly, a unicameral legislative assembly created by Section 42 of the Constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Subject to the Constitution, the legislature may make laws  for the peace, order and good government of the Islands (s. 62 of the Constitution). In practice, this amounts to competence in various legislative areas excluding defence, external affairs, the regulation of international financial services, internal security including the Police Force, and the appointment of any person to any public office which are the special responsibilities of H. E. the Governor (s. 37(1) of the Constitution) which responsibilities may be assigned to a member of the Cabinet. There are 15 elected members of the House of Assembly, 4 members appointed by H.E. the Governor, a Speaker chosen from the members, and the Attorney General. Ordinances are given the Governor’s Assent in Her Majesty The Queen’s name or Her Majesty has given Her assent to it through a Secretary of State and the Governor has signified Her assent by proclamation published in the Turks and Caicos Islands Gazette. H.E. the Governor is required to dissolve the House of Assembly at the expiration of four years from the date when the House first meets after any general election, unless it has been sooner dissolved (s. 57(3) of the Constitution). The website of the House of Assembly can be found here: https://gov.tc/hoa/

Ordinances of the Turks and Caicos Islands are generally reproduced by a Revised Edition of the Laws of the Turks and Caicos Islands from time to time pursuant to the Revised Edition of the Laws Ordinance CAP 1.02 by the Law Revision Commissioner, who is currently the Attorney General of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Hon. Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles OBE.

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS LAWS