Mahala Wynns is a former Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Early life and education

Mahala Wynns was born on 4 October 1948, the second of two girls born to Richard and Henrietta Wynns in Grand Turk,  Turks and Caicos Islands. 

Career

Wynns was Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) from 9 August 2006 to September 2009. She was also the acting Governor of the TCI in 2005 and 2008.

Wynns’ appointment as Deputy Governor followed her previous position as Chief Secretary when she became just the second Belonger to take up the post.

She is the second woman to act as the islands' governor. Her first tenure was from 21 June to 11 July 2005 with the departure of Jim Poston. She stepped down when Richard Tauwhare took office on 11 July 2005. Wynns's second tenure as acting Governor was from the time Tauwhare departed from the TCI on 16 July 2008 to the swearing of new Governor Gordon Wetherell on 5 August 2008.

Honours and awards

Wynns was awarded the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for public service to the TCI in the 2005 New Year Honours List.

Personal life

She has been a strong advocate for women’s rights and those in the civil service as well as president of the Grand Turk Police Advisory Committee.
She was also a member of the Girl Guides Association, the Grand Turk Chorale Group and the Jubilee Singers and played the lead soprano role in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penance and HMS Pinafore.

A devoted Methodist, Mrs Wynns enjoyed spells as Sunday school teacher, class leader, choir member, leader of the Young Adventurers and coordinator of youth camps and church conferences. She also produced and directed several Christmas and Easter plays over the years and became the first female steward elected to serve in the Grand Turk Church.