Marcella Liburd

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JP
Liburd in 2023
5th Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Assumed office
1 February 2023
MonarchCharles III
Prime MinisterTerrance Drew
Preceded byTapley Seaton
Speaker of the National Assembly
In office
December 2004 – 18 April 2008
Preceded byWalford Gumbs
Succeeded byCurtis Martin
Personal details
Born (1953-07-10) 10 July 1953 (age 70)
Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
EducationUniversity of the West Indies (BA)
WebsiteOfficial website

Dame Marcella Althea Liburd

Kittitian politician who is the fifth governor-general of Saint Kitts and Nevis, serving since 2023. Trained as a teacher and then as a barrister and solicitor, Liburd was the first woman to serve as both the Speaker of the National Assembly of Saint Kitts and Nevis and the Governor-General, as well as the first Governor-General appointed by Charles III (rather than being carried over from Elizabeth II's reign). She has served in various Ministerial positions including Acting Prime Minister and Chair of the Opposition for the Labour Party
. She was the first woman to serve as Chair in the 81-year-old organization’s history.

Early life

Marcella Liburd was born on 10 July 1953 in

St. Kitts and Nevis[3] to Anne Eliza (née Martin) and Clement Liburd.[4] After attending Basseterre Girls School, Liburd graduated from Basseterre High School. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of the West Indies in 1976.[3]

Career

Liburd returned from abroad and began teaching at Basseterre and Cayon High Schools. She returned to her own studies, obtaining a Bachelor of Law with honours in 1992 from Norman Manley Law School (NMLS) where she continued her education, earning a Legal Education Certificate from NMLS in 1994. After Liburd's admission as a barrister and solicitor for the Eastern Supreme Court in 1994, she began a political career. She was appointed as Secretary of the Labour Party in 1997. In 2004, she became Speaker of the National Assembly,[3] the first woman to serve in that capacity in the country.[5] Liburd served until 2008, when she ran as a candidate for Constituency No. 2, St. Kitts and was elected as a Member of Parliament.[3]

Liburd has drafted legislation that includes the Domestic Violence Act and Equal Pay Act.

Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis to highlight prominent women's accomplishments.[6]

Liburd with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, 5 May 2023

In 2013, Liburd became the first woman elected as Chair of the Labour Party in its 81-year history.

Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG).[12][13]

References

Citations

  1. ^ "SKNVibes | Her Excellency Dame Marcella Liburd GCMG, JP installed as the first female Governor-General of St. Christopher and Nevis".
  2. ^ "Hon. Marcella Liburd – St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party". 27 July 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-07-27.
  3. ^ a b c d e Caribbean Elections 2016.
  4. ^ St. Kitts National Archives 2010.
  5. ^ Williams 2009.
  6. ^ a b MIY Vue News 2011.
  7. ^ Williams 2013.
  8. ^ Frederick 2013.
  9. ^ Antigua Observer 2016.
  10. ^ Associates Times 2023a.
  11. ^ "HER EXCELLENCY DAME MARCELLA LIBURD GCMG, JP INSTALLED AS FIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF ST. CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS". SKNIS. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  12. ^ "Her Excellency Dame Marcella Liburd GCMG, JP installed as the first female Governor-General of St. Christopher and Nevis". SKN Vibes. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  13. ^ "No. 64212". The London Gazette. 27 October 2023. p. 21626.

Bibliography

See also

  • First women lawyers around the world
Government offices
Preceded by Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis
2023–present 		Incumbent
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