{{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]] | prime_minister = [[Terrance Drew]] | term_start = 1 February 2023 | term_end = | predecessor = [[Tapley Seaton]] | successor = | office1 = Speaker of the [[National Assembly (Saint Kitts and Nevis)|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]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]) | website = {{URL|bryantandliburd.com|Official website}} | caption = Liburd in 2023 }} '''Dame Marcella Althea Liburd''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|GCMGf|JP}}<ref>{{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 }}</ref> (born 10 July 1953<ref>{{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 }}</ref>) is a [[St. Kitts and Nevis|Kittitian]] politician who is the fifth [[Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis|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 (Saint Kitts and Nevis)|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 [[Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party|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 Liburd|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 [[Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party|Labour Party]] in 1997. In 2004, she became Speaker of the [[National Assembly (Saint Kitts and Nevis)|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|thumb|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.{{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 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Later that week, she was appointed [[Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]] (GCMG).<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=64212|page=21626|date=27 October 2023}}</ref>
== References == ===Citations=== {{Reflist|30em}}
===Bibliography=== {{Refbegin|30em}} *{{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=[[Labour Spokesman|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=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|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 }} {{Refend}}
== See also == * [[First women lawyers around the world]] {{s-start}} {{s-gov}} {{s-bef|before=[[Tapley Seaton]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis]]|years=2023–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}} {{Saint Kitts and Nevis National Assembly Speakers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Liburd, Marcella}} [[Category:1953 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Basseterre]] [[Category:Women lawyers]] [[Category:Governors-general of Saint Kitts and Nevis]] [[Category:Dames Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]] [[Category:Women government ministers of Saint Kitts and Nevis]] [[Category:Culture ministers of Saint Kitts and Nevis]] [[Category:Health ministers of Saint Kitts and Nevis]] [[Category:Saint Kitts and Nevis Labour Party politicians]] [[Category:Justices of the peace]] [[Category:Members of the National Assembly (Saint Kitts and Nevis)]] [[Category:Women's rights activists]] [[Category:20th-century women politicians]] [[Category:21st-century Saint Kitts and Nevis women politicians]] [[Category:21st-century Saint Kitts and Nevis politicians]] [[Category:First women legislative speakers]] [[Category:Speakers of the National Assembly (Saint Kitts and Nevis)]] [[Category:Saint Kitts and Nevis people of Antigua and Barbuda descent]] [[Category:Female governors-general]] [[Category:Lawyers awarded damehoods]]