Joan Purcell
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dame Joan Millicent Purcell (DBE)[1] is a Grenadian politician, community activist and educator.
Joan Millicent Purcell | |
|---|---|
| President of the Senate | |
| In office 20 August 2008 – 9 January 2013 | |
| Prime Minister | Tillman Thomas |
| Preceded by | Kenny Lalsingh |
| Succeeded by | Lawrence Albert Joseph |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 September 1942 Carriacou |
| Party | National Democratic Congress |
Purcell was born on 23 September 1942[2] on Carriacou. She has a bachelor's degree in social studies from University of the West Indies and University of Toronto.[3]
In 1983 after United States invasion to Grenada, Purcell was invited to the interim government by Sir Paul Scoon.[4] She was a member of the cabinet from 1983 to 1984.[5]
Purcell was elected to the House of Representatives of Grenada in the 1990 elections from the St George constituency. She was re-elected to the house in the 1995 elections from Carriacou constituency.[4] She was appointed minister of communications, works, public utilities, information and women's affairs from 1993 to 1995.[2] She was also acting Prime Minister.[3] In 1996 she was elected as deputy political leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and acting political leader of the party from 1998 to 1999.[5] In 1999 she led NDC into the 1999 elections,[1] and after the elections became the political leader of NDC.[6]
Purcell was appointed President of the Senate from 2008 to 2013.[3] She has since retired from frontline politics.[3] In June 2024, she was made Dame Commander by King Charles III in the 2024 Birthday Honours.[1]
