STEP Bahamas
The Bahamas Branch of STEP was established in 1996. It is well equipped to service its members with competent qualified Directors and a full time Administrator.Over the years of the Branch’s existence, the Directorship composition has been made up of respected individuals in the industry who have assisted in the continued growth of its membership. There are Branch Directors that are serving in positions within STEP Worldwide who continue to represent the Bahamas as well as provide updates necessary to enhance the Branch.
Monthly luncheons are offered to the members to pass on pertinent information through knowledgeable presenters from the international and local arenas.
The Branch also continues to host the Foundation and Diploma exams, which is one of the methods used to become a qualified STEP member. In facilitating the exams, face-to-face courses are held during the course of the year to help persons prepare for a successful attempt at the examinations. The Branch Administrator is available to assist with course enrolments, reservations for the monthly luncheons and the addressing of any other queries. The Administrator can be contacted via STEP.Bahamas@step.org
To further edify the minds and keep our members interested in this industry we host an Annual Moot with the participation of leading law firms in the Bahamas. The debated issue is always a matter that concerns the Trust world.
Additionally, our annual half-day seminar is co-hosted with the Bahamas Financial Services Board and is filled with interesting information that all our members require to keep themselves abreast of the changes in the industry.
The Bahamas Branch is a full supporter and presenter at the Annual Nassau Conference hosted by the Association of International Banks & Trust. We also share interests and resources with the Bahamas Association of Compliance Officers and the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants
- Mrs Joanne Pyfrom TEP MA, Branch Chair
- Mr Shivron Gay TEP LLB LLM ESQ., Branch Vice Chair
- Miss Lillian Russell TEP, Branch Secretary
- Mrs Anita Bain TEP, Branch Treasurer
- Ms Dena Andrews TEP, Director at Large
- Ms Ronique Bastian TEP, Director at Large
- Ms Anayah Miller TEP, Director at Large
- Mrs Tanya Munroe- Turnquest TEP, Director at Large
- Mr Patwell Rose TEP, Director at Large
- Mrs Portia Smith TEP, Director at Large
- Ms Norrissa Williams TEP, Director at Large
- Mr Sirhan Johnson TEP, Branch Regional & Rural Coordinator
Events article and presentation archive
STEP Bahamas often has speakers who make presentations at luncheons and other STEP meetings, when possible these will be posted in the archive.
The information contained in these articles is provided for the interest of STEP members and members of the public but is not intended to constitute legal advice.
2019 Archives
-
Exoneration Clauses, ‘Dishonesty’ and ‘Equitable Compensation’ - Dr. David Hayton (PPT 238KB)
2018 Archives
- Recent Trends in Financial Crimes & the Implications of the New Proceeds of Crime Act 2018 on Policing the Financial Services Sector - Jared Turnquest (PDF 1.81 MB)
- The United States as a Tax Haven – Has The Bahamas lost its competitive edge? , Milan K. Patel, and Matthew Ledvina, 17 January 2018 (PPT 6MB)
- THE NEXT STEP FOR INVESTMENT MARKETS IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY PRESENTATION, 22 February 2018 (PDF 5MB)
2017 Archives
- How FATCA and CRS Have Changed The World As We Knew It, Jack Brister, 22 February 2017 (PDF 330KB)
2016 Archives
- October Luncheon - The UK: where are we now? How will Trustees and UHNW clients be affected by Brexit and the changes to the taxation of non-doms and UK residential property? (pptx 1MB)
- Tax Evasion Wars: The U.S. Awakens, Arthur J. Dichter, 8 September 2016 (PPT 5MB)
- STEP Bahamas AGM and Financial Report 2016 (PDF 3MB)
- Directed Trusts - Uses and abuses - whose power is it anyway? Jonathan Riley, Michelmores, London (PPT 135KB)
2015 Archives
- A current perspective from the UK - Issues, implications and practical solutions arising from reporting obligations and the general tax environment in the UK for non-doms, Richard Morley, BDO LLP (PDF 1.3MB)
2014 Archives
- VAT - Facts for Financial Services - 17 Dec (PPT 880KB)
- The New 2014 IRS Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program - Steven L. Cantor and Arthur J. Dichter - Sept 30 (PPT 1.5MB)
- Survival and Adaptation Strategies for IFCs - Sean McWeeney QC - May 13
- VAT Slides - Sandra Skuszka - March
- FATCA Update - Dr Nicola Virgill-Rolle - February
2013 Archives
- Annual General Meeting Booklet 2013
- Sean McWeeney QC presentation - September
- Kevin Burrows' Presentation - April
- Dawn Register's Presentation - March
- Jonathan Conder's Presentation - January
- George Hodgson's Presentation - January
2012 Archives
- November Luncheon - Obtaining and Terminating U.S. Citizenship and Preserving and Terminating U.S. Green Cards - Steve Trow
- November Luncheon - Expatriation from the United States - Hal J. Webb
- Role of on-site examination
- STEP June Half Day Seminar - Brazil presentation by William Heuseler
- STEP June Half Day Seminar - Canada presentation by Michael Cadesky and Grace Chow
- STEP June Half Day Seminar - USA presentation by Jack Brister
2011 Archives
- The new French tax treatment and reporting obligations of foreigns trusts
- Exchange controls in a modern Bahamas
- Current developments in trust law and practice
- STEP October Luncheon by Justice David Hayton
- STEP September Luncheon by James Smith
- STEP May Luncheon by George Hodgson
- STEP April Luncheon by Linda D'Aguilar
- STEP February Luncheon by Jack Brister
- Current developments in trust law and practice
- AGM Report 2011-12
2009 Archives
- September Luncheon Debate - The Financial Services Industry: Is it on the Verge of Extinction?
- June Luncheon: Jack Brister
- January Luncheon: The Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act - Beware: A Discussion of the Proposed Legislation and the Potential Impact on The Bahamas and the International Financial and Advisory Community. Steven Cantor and Steve Trow
2008 Archives
- December "The Hon. Alfred M. Sears of Sears & Co. will address us on: "Criteria for Trustees Rendering Legal Assistance to Other Countries in Civil and Criminal Matters"
- November: Proposed amendments to the Foundation Act, Dynasty Planning and Getting our Message Across By Ms. Caroline Garnham
- January Luncheon - War Stories from a US International Trust and Estate Practitioner - Latest Trends and Events Affecting Foreign Trustees" by Mr. Steven Cantor
2007 Archives
- November Luncheon - "The Rule in Hastings-Bass" by Mr. Sean McWeeney
- October- Auditing Foreign Trusts: Taken from the STEP Journal
- October Luncheon - “The OECD’s Harmful Tax Practices Initiative – Seven and a half years after the “Tax Haven” list was published” - Rowena Bethel
- STEP September Luncheon - The Use and Abuse of Trust Precedents: by Heather Thompson
- June (STEP-GAM Scholarship Luncheon): How Good is Your Manager? A Guide to Benchmarking and Monitoring Trustee Investment by Paul Bailey
- June - Overview of Current Initiatives in The Bahamas' Financial Services Industry
- Domestic Wealth Management Trust for Bahamians - Steven Cantor
- Private Trust Companies: Practical Uses of a PTC. Factors to Consider when Recommending a PTC - Andrew Law
- Foundations: Practical Uses - Heather Thompson
- Smart Funds - David Allen
- Smart Funds - David Thain
- Foundations: Formation, Practical Uses & Amendments - Bryan Glinton
- Domestic Asset Management - K Kerr & A Ferguson
- Private Trust Company - Michelle Neville-Clarke
- Private Trust Companies: Establishing a PTC and acting as a Registered Representative - Nadia Taylor
- Use of Bahamian Foundations and Private Trust Companies in International Planning - Ursula Rolle
- Bahamian Wills - Tanya Hanna
- March - Wealth Management Planning Seminar Seabreeze Ballroom, SuperClub Breezes
- February - "US Beneficiaries of Foreign Trusts - What Every Trustee and Attorney Should Know" by Mr. Hal . J. Webb
2006 Archives
- October - Use of Bahamian Financial Planning Structures for European Cities
- September - Overview of current Initiatives in The Bahamas Financial Services Industry
- June - The Benefits of Recent Changes to Trustees' Investment Powers - Paul Bailey (GAM) and Patrick Harney (Withers)
- May - The Use of IRA annuities for Estate Planning Purposes - Richard Westin and Bryan Glinton
- April - Canadian Taxation of Non Resident Trusts by Paul Lebreux
- March - The Latest Information for Trustees when a Beneficiary becomes a US Taxpayer
- February - Tax Complaint Investment Holding Structures for Latin Americans - Hywell Jones & Gerald Dickens
- January - Agreement re. Access to Mutual Agreements Procedures
- January - Agreement re. Avoidance of Double Taxation
- January - Exchange of Information 2006
- January - Mutual Understanding of Participation Exemption
- January - Political Declaration
- January - Progress Towards a Level Playing Field
- January - The Treasury News Release - Agree w. the Netherlands
2005 Archives
- December - REMARKS by Senator the Hon. James H. Smith Minister of State for Finance
- November - The tax treatment of trusts in Continental Europe: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland - Jean-Marc Tirard and Maryse Naudin Tirard
- September - Trustee’s Position On Divorce Of Beneficiaries - Nicholas Jacob
- September - Deconstructing National Tax Blacklists
- September -Tax Agreements with Tax Havens and Other Small Countries - Marshall J. Langer
- April - Protectors: The Good or Bad Guys - Andrew Law
- February - Trustee Investment Powers And Their Application To Purpose Trusts - Michael Allen
2004 Archives
- December - Update on International Initiatives Affecting the Bahamas - John K. Delaney
- June - Information Reporting Gathering and Disclosing Client Information - Some Silver Linings - Joel J. Karp
- February - Evaluating the Exposure and Liability of Professional Trustees - A.J. Conder
- January - Tax Planning for the United States Beneficiaries of Offshore Trusts - Stephen L. Cantor
2003 Archives
- December - Foundations - Anthony Hepburn
- November - From the Holy City to the Isle of Man: Three Recent English Trust Cases - David Way
- July - Recent Trust Cases Reserved Powers Trusts - Nicholas Jacob
- June - Structuring for Latin American Clients - Hay, Richard J
- June - Private Banking Opportunities in Latin America - Hay, Richard J
- April - Offshore Voluntary Compliance Initiative - Webb, Hal J
- April - Canadian Tax Rules - Jones, Hywel
- April - KPMG Tax Presentation - Belton, Denise
- April - Non Resident Trust Update - Bollefer, Stuart & Bernstein, Jack
2002 Archives
- December - The Purchase of Properties in France- by Tirard, Naudin
- December - The Legal and Tax Treatment of Trusts in France - by Tirard, Naudin
- September - Towards a Level Playing Field: Regulating Corporate Vehicles in Cross-Border Transactions. - review conducted by law firm Stikeman Elliott
- September - US Patriot Act 2002: How does it affect you in The Bahamas? Full Presentation - By Various Speakers
- September - US Patriot Act 2002: How does it affect you in The Bahamas? Seminar Schedule
- May - U.S. and Offshore Asset Protection Trusts Compared - by Joel Karp
2001 Archives
- November - US Patriot Act 2001 - By Steven L. Cantor
- November - US Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act 2001 - By Steven L. Cantor
- March - The Bahamas International Business Companies Act 2000 - By Sean McWeeney
Useful Links
Bahamas Compliance Commission
This site provides information on the relevant anti-money laundering laws, policies and procedures of The Bahamas as well as the operations of the Commission.
Bahamas Financial Services Board
Helpful resources on legislation, members and services offered by the Financial Sector in The Bahamas.
Members in Bahamas
Find STEP members in Bahamas using the Member Search: Search now