Marcella Liburd

{{Short description|Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis since 2023}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = Her Excellency Dame

| name = Marcella Liburd

| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|size=100%|country=GBR|GCMGf|JP}}

| image = Marcella Liburd 2023.jpg

| office = 5th Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis

| monarch = Charles III

| deputy = Walford Gumbs

| primeminister = Terrance Drew

| term_start = 1 February 2023

| term_end =

| predecessor = Tapley Seaton

| successor =

| office1 = Speaker of the National Assembly

| term_start1 = December 2004

| term_end1 = 18 April 2008

| predecessor1 = Walford Gumbs

| successor1 = Curtis Martin

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|7|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis

| death_date =

| death_place =

| education = University of the West Indies (BA)

| website = {{url|bryantandliburd.com|Official website}}

| caption = Liburd in 2023

}}

Dame Marcella Althea Liburd {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCMGf|JP}}{{cite web | url=https://www.sknvibes.com/news/newsdetails.cfm/121136 | title=SKNVibes | Her Excellency Dame Marcella Liburd GCMG, JP installed as the first female Governor-General of St. Christopher and Nevis }} (born 10 July 1953{{cite web |title=Hon. Marcella Liburd – St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party |url=http://www.stkittsnevislabourparty.com/hon-marcella-liburd/ |date=27 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727210349/http://www.stkittsnevislabourparty.com/hon-marcella-liburd/ |archive-date=2018-07-27 }}) is a 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 Basseterre, Saint Kitts, St. Kitts and Nevis{{sfn|Caribbean Elections|2016}} to Anne Eliza (née Martin) and Clement Liburd.{{sfn|St. Kitts National Archives|2010}} 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.{{sfn|Caribbean Elections|2016}}

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,{{sfn|Caribbean Elections|2016}} the first woman to serve in that capacity in the country.{{sfn|Williams|2009}} Liburd served until 2008, when she ran as a candidate for Constituency No. 2, St. Kitts and was elected as a Member of Parliament.{{sfn|Caribbean Elections|2016}}

Liburd has drafted legislation that includes the Domestic Violence Act and Equal Pay Act.{{sfn|Caribbean Elections|2016}} She has served as the Minister of Health, Social Services, Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs,{{sfn|MIY Vue News|2011}} as well as Acting Prime Minister.{{sfn|Williams|2013}} In 2011, Liburd was featured in an exhibit promoted by various departments of the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis to highlight prominent women's accomplishments.{{sfn|MIY Vue News|2011}}

File:Realms Lunch Coronation Event (52872261291).jpg

In 2013, Liburd became the first woman elected as Chair of the Labour Party in its 81-year history.{{sfn|Frederick|2013}} In 2015, the Labor Party was removed from office for the first time in twenty years, making her a member of the Opposition.{{sfn|Antigua Observer|2016}} She became the first woman deputy leader of the National Labor Party in 2018 and was appointed as Governor-General’s Deputy in 2022.{{sfn|Associates Times|2023a}} Liburd was installed as the first woman to become Governor-General for the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis on 1 February 2023.{{cite web |title=HER EXCELLENCY DAME MARCELLA LIBURD GCMG, JP INSTALLED AS FIRST FEMALE GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF ST. CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS |url=https://www.sknis.gov.kn/2023/02/01/her-excellency-marcella-liburd-jp-sworn-in-as-st-kitts-and-nevis-first-female-governor-general-2/ |website=SKNIS |access-date=6 February 2023 |date=3 February 2023}} Later that week, she was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG).{{cite web |title=Her Excellency Dame Marcella Liburd GCMG, JP installed as the first female Governor-General of St. Christopher and Nevis |url=https://www.sknvibes.com/news/newsdetails.cfm/121136 |website=SKN Vibes |access-date=8 February 2023}}{{London Gazette|issue=64212|page=21626|date=27 October 2023}}

References

=Citations=

=Bibliography=

{{cite news|last1=Frederick |first1=Toni |title=Liburd: No Confidence Motion not discussed at Labour Conference |url=https://www.winnfm.com/news/local/4237-liburd-no-confidence-motion-not-discussed-at-labour-conference |access-date=29 August 2016 |publisher=West Indies News Network |date=23 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718021051/http://www.winnfm.com/news/local/4237-liburd-no-confidence-motion-not-discussed-at-labour-conference |archive-date=18 July 2014 |location=Basseterre St. Kitts |url-status=dead }}
{{cite news|last1=Williams |first1=Erasmus |title=Hon. Marcella Liburd is Acting Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis |url=http://www.sknvibes.com/news/newsdetails.cfm/70766 |access-date=29 August 2016 |publisher=SKN Vibes |date=8 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522200954/http://www.sknvibes.com/news/newsdetails.cfm/70766 |archive-date=22 May 2013 |location=Basseterre, Saint Kitts |url-status=dead }}
{{cite news|last1=Williams |first1=Lesroy W. |title=Marcella Liburd: ¡°Politics is about developing people¡± |url=http://www.labourspokesman.com/newsitem.asp?more=local&NewsID=448 |access-date=29 August 2016 |publisher=The Labour Spokesman |date=5 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829221903/http://www.labourspokesman.com/newsitem.asp?more=local&NewsID=448 |archive-date=29 August 2016 |location=Basseterre, St. Kitts |url-status=usurped }}
{{cite web|ref={{harvid|Caribbean Elections|2016}} |title=Marcella Liburd |url=http://www.caribbeanelections.com/kn/candidates/sknlp/Marcella_Liburd.asp |website=Caribbean Elections |publisher=KnowledgeWalk Institute |access-date=29 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920011240/http://caribbeanelections.com/kn/candidates/sknlp/Marcella_Liburd.asp |archive-date=20 September 2010 |location=Warrens, Barbados |date=2016 |url-status=dead }}
{{cite news |ref={{harvid|Associates Times|2023a}}|title=Marcella Liburd JP Appointed as Governor-General of St Kitts and Nevis |url=https://associatestimes.com/marcella-liburd-jp-appointed-as-governor-general-of-st-kitts-and-nevis/ |access-date=5 February 2023 |work=Associates Times |date=1 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205160751/https://associatestimes.com/marcella-liburd-jp-appointed-as-governor-general-of-st-kitts-and-nevis/ |archive-date=5 February 2023 |location=Miami, Florida |url-status=live}}
{{cite web|ref={{harvid|St. Kitts National Archives|2010}}|author=|title=Masses House Personalities|url=http://historicbasseterre.com/hs_persons.asp?HSID=25&PID=43|website=Historic Basseterre|publisher=St. Kitts National Archives|access-date=29 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326034257/http://historicbasseterre.com/hs_persons.asp?HSID=25&PID=43|archive-date=26 March 2016|location=Basseterre, St. Kitts|date=2010}}
{{cite news|ref={{harvid|MIY Vue News|2011}} |title=Powerful Women of St. Kitts Featured in Exhibition |url=http://miyvue.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1935:powerful-women-of-st-kitts-featured-in-exhibition&catid=42:rokstories |access-date=29 August 2016 |publisher=MIY Vue News |date=7 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829162959/http://miyvue.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1935%3Apowerful-women-of-st-kitts-featured-in-exhibition&catid=42%3Arokstories |archive-date=29 August 2016 |location=Basseterre, St. Kitts |url-status=dead }}
{{cite news |ref={{harvid|Associates Times|2023b}}|title=St Kitts and Nevis To Host Installation Ceremony for First Female Governor-General Marcella Liburd |url=https://associatestimes.com/st-kitts-and-nevis-to-host-installation-ceremony-for-first-female-governor-general-marcella-liburd/ |access-date=5 February 2023 |work=Associates Times |date=3 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205160614/https://associatestimes.com/st-kitts-and-nevis-to-host-installation-ceremony-for-first-female-governor-general-marcella-liburd/ |archive-date=5 February 2023 |location=Miami, Florida |url-status=live}}
{{cite news|ref={{harvid|Antigua Observer|2016}} |title="We Welcome The Investigations" Says MP Liburd |url=http://antiguaobserver.com/we-welcome-the-investigations-says-mp-liburd/ |access-date=29 August 2016 |publisher=Antigua Observer |date=18 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219093547/http://antiguaobserver.com/we-welcome-the-investigations-says-mp-liburd/ |archive-date=19 February 2016 |location=St. John’s, Antigua |url-status=dead }}