Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards sworn in as Chief Justice of Turks and Caicos

May 6 2026

Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards was officially sworn in on May 6 2026 as Chief Justice of the Turks and Caicos Islands, marking another major achievement in her decades-long judicial career.

Justice Cummings-Edwards, who previously served as Acting Chancellor and Acting Chief Justice in Guyana, brings extensive legal and judicial experience to the position.

Her appointment is expected to further strengthen the administration of justice in the Turks and Caicos Islands, while reinforcing judicial independence and improving the efficiency of the territory’s court system.

Throughout her career in Guyana’s judiciary, Cummings-Edwards held several senior positions that shaped the country’s legal landscape. She served as Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary from March 2017 until late 2025, overseeing the nation’s judicial system during a critical period of legal and constitutional development.

Prior to that appointment, she was named Acting Chief Justice in December 2015, becoming only the second woman in Guyana’s history to occupy the prestigious office. Her judicial advancement also included her elevation to the Court of Appeal as a Justice of Appeal in 2008, following her appointment as a High Court Judge in 2000.

Before entering the judiciary, Cummings-Edwards began her legal career in 1988 as a State Counsel within the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions, steadily building a reputation for professionalism, integrity, and dedication to the rule of law.

Her contributions to Guyana’s legal fraternity have also been nationally recognized through two of the country’s highest honours the Order of Roraima and the Cacique’s Crown of Honour.

Her appointment as Chief Justice of the Turks and Caicos Islands is being viewed as a proud moment for Guyana’s legal community and a testament to her longstanding service and leadership within the Caribbean judiciary.