GENERAL EDUCATION
Epworth Junior School (now Epworth Maurice Hillier Memorial School)
St. Kitts and Nevis Grammar School
The Basseterre High School
The University of the West Indies
Ottawa University
QUALIFICATIONS and EXPERIENCE
Modern Languages (French and Spanish) at Advanced Level with Distinction.
Taught Spanish, French and Latin, Forms 1A to VI B for 1 year (1969 -1970) at the Basseterre High School.
Attended the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados, graduating in 1973 with the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) Degree with Upper Second Class Honours.
In 1975, received the Legal Education Certificate from the Council of Legal Education of the West Indies, having attended Year 1 at the Hugh Wooding Laws School (Trinidad and Tobago) and Year 2 at the Norman Manley Law School (Jamaica).
While in Year 1 was a Tutor in Criminal Law for Year 1 Faculty of Law Students at the U.W.I St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad.
FIRSTS:
First Attorney General of an Independent Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis on 19th September 1983, having earlier served as Crown Counsel and Acting Registrar and Magistrate.
Upon assuming the post of Attorney General in 1980 (pre-independence) at age 29 was the youngest Attorney General in the Commonwealth and served in that post for 15 years, becoming the longest serving Attorney General in the Region.
Was among the first group of graduates of the Faculty of Law of the University of the West Indies (1975) and the first of those graduating to be appointed Attorney General (1980) and the first to be elevated to the Rank of Silk as One of Her Majesty’s Counsel (1988)
Was the first former Student to serve on the Council of Legal Education.Was among the longest serving and received several awards.
First Chairman (1985-1995) of the joint venture telecommunications Company (Government/Cable & Wireless), now a public company.
First President, Saint Christopher National Trust
PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS HELD
Past President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Bar Association
Past President of the Rotary Club of St. Kitts
Director of the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce 1999-2006. Awarded a plaque for his service to the private sector
Past President of the OECS Bar Association
Former President of the Saint Christopher National Trust
Former Vice President of the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society
Served as a Chairman of the U.W.I Territorial Advisory Committee to over 25 years
Is a trained Legislative Drafter from the University of Ottawa
Has been an Attorney-at-Law for 43 years and was a Senior Partner in the Law Firm of SEATON & FORMAN
While at the University was a member of the Cave Hill Student Guild Council
Former Chairman, Frigate Bay Development Corporation
Former member of the Board of Governors of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College
While Attorney General co-authored several significant pieces of landmark legislation including the National Environmental and Conservation Protection Act 1987. The Protection of Employment Act 1986, and the Co-operative Societies Act
After demitting office, was a member of the drafting team at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) which drafted the Securities Act 2000, Securities Regulations and amendments to the Aliens Landholding legislation of all member territories of ECCB
Pro bono Drafting
For the Chamber of Industry and Commerce – Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Legislation under an ILO sponsored Project.
For the Ministry of Education – the legislative framework to facilitate greater autonomy for the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College.
For the St Christopher Heritage Society – the National Trust Act.
AWARDS AND APPOINTMENTS
1980 – Appointed a Justice of the Peace
Appointed a Notary Public for St Kitts and Nevis
1985 – Awarded the rank of Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during Royal Visit to St. Kitts and Nevis.
1988 – Elevated to the rank of Silk (One of Her Majesty’s Counsel) –
Queen’ Counsel – and was the first graduate of the West Indian Law Schools to be so elevated.
12th May 2015 Appointed Governor-General’s Deputy of Saint
Christopher and Nevis.
14th May 2015 Appointed Acting Governor-General of Saint Christopher
and Nevis
1st September 2015 Appointed Governor-General of Saint Christopher and
Nevis
9th November 2015 Conferral of the accolade, Knight Grand Cross of the
Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (G.C.M.G) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
22nd March 2016 Investiture at Buckingham Palace
INTERESTS
Public Service
Promoting local history from settlement (1623) to Independence (1983)
Gardening
Music
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Hosted 22 weekly one-hour long programmes entitled “the Constitution And You” examining and explaining the provisions of the Constitution of Saint Christopher and Nevis – WINN FM Radio.
Has conducted seminars on protocol for both the public and private sectors
IMPENDING PUBLICATIONS
‘PILLARS OF NATION’ – 1937 – 2017 to feature the personalities who have played significant roles in the political history and governance of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Target audience – school children, the general citizenry, visitors, foreign dignitaries and scholars.
Expected launch date is September, 2018 on the occasion of the 35th Anniversary of Independence.
Co-Author – Mr Leonard Stapleton
PATRONAGE
Patron
Saint Christopher National Trust
Chief Scout
The Boys Brigade
National Mental Health Association
The Ripple Institute