Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles, OBE, is an attorney from the Turks and Caicos Islands and the first native-born Turks and Caicos Islander to serve as the territory's Attorney General.
Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles OBE | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rhondalee Moreen Braithwaite Grand Turk Island, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Overseas Territory |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Liberty University |
| Occupation(s) | Teacher, attorney |
Early life
editRhondalee Moreen Braithwaite was born on Grand Turk Island to Susan (née Fulford) and Frederick Braithwaite, as their second child among six siblings.[1][2] Her father was a Barbadian, who had immigrated to the Turks and Caicos and worked as a policeman.[3] Her mother was from South Caicos and was employed as the Registrar of Lands.
From an early age, Braithwaite wanted to study law and completed her secondary education at the Turks and Caicos High School.[1]
Teaching Career
editFor two years after finishing high school, Braithwaite taught second grade at the Grand Turk Christian Academy, before deciding to further her education. She went on to study at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, earning a degree in government and history and then returned to Grand Turk to teach forth grade for an additional two years.
Legal career
editEducation and training
editDeciding she did not want to be a teacher, she continued her studies, enrolling in law school at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus.[1] Braithwaite earned her Bachelor of Laws at UWI before pursuing a certificate for legal education from the Eugene Dupuch Law School in Nassau.[4]
Crown counsel
editIn 2000, Braithwaite-Knowles returned to the Turks and Caicos and began working for the government as a Crown Counsel.[4][5] Within four years, she was appointed as a Senior Crown Counsel and by 2006, she had been promoted as Principal Crown Counsel with a responsibility for commercial transactions, overseeing development documents, leases, licenses, and other business agreements.[citation needed]
Attorney-General
editBraithwaite-Knowles became Deputy Attorney-General in 2008[5] and, in 2013, she was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her contributions to public service reform.[2][6]
After Huw Shepheard stepped down as Attorney-General in 2013, Braithwaite-Knowles applied for the position.[1] After a recruitment process that included numerous overseas candidates, Braithwaite-Knowles was selected as the first native born Attorney-General of the Turks and Caicos, simultaneously becoming the first woman and youngest person to hold the job.[4][5][7]
Personal life
editBraithwaite is married to husband, Gary Knowles, and the couple have one son.[1]
References
editCitations
edit- ^ a b c d e Turks and Caicos Weekly News 2015.
- ^ a b The Guardian 2013.
- ^ Bajan Reporter 2014.
- ^ a b c Turks and Caicos Weekly News 2014.
- ^ a b c Turks and Caicos Islands Government 2014.
- ^ "Order of the British Empire Appointments". The London Gazette (60534): 25. 15 June 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
- ^ BBC 2017.
Bibliography
edit- "Hon. Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles". Attorney-General's Chambers. Waterloo, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos: Turks and Caicos Islands Government. 2014. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- "New Attorney General of Turks and Caicos Islands has Barbadian Connections". Bridgetown, Barbados: Bajan Reporter. 27 February 2014. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- "Person of the Year- Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles 'A gem of a lady'". Turks and Caicos Weekly News. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. 5 January 2015. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- "Queen's birthday honours list 2013: Diplomatic". The Guardian. London, England. 14 June 2013. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- "Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles is the new AG". Turks and Caicos Weekly News. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. 2 March 2014. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- "Turks and Caicos: Where women hold the top jobs". London, England: BBC. 29 January 2017. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.