Glynis Roberts
Encyclopedia
Glynis Roberts is a politician
from the tri-island nation of Grenada
, Carriacou and Petite Martinique
. She was first elected to parliament in 2003 and represents the St George South
constituency for the National Democratic Congress
(NDC) in the House of Representatives of Grenada
. The House of Representatives is the lower house of the Parliament of Grenada. It has 15 members, elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies.
The St George South constituency, based in the southernmost part of Grenada, covers the communities of Calliste, True Blue, L'Anse aux Épines, Frequente, Grand Anse, Grand Anse Valley, Woburn, Springs and Belmont. It also takes in the Maurice Bishop International Airport in Point Salines, the world famous Grand Anse beach and St. George's University
. Most of Grenada's major hotels are concentrated in the district.
Roberts, one of only two elected female members of Grenada's parliament
, currently serves as Grenada's Minister of Labour. She was Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation until the November 2010 cabinet reshuffle. She is also the former Treasurer of the ruling NDC party. She had an original stint as Minister of Social Development and Labour during the first year of the NDC's return to government in 2008 before being transferred to the tourism portfolio. Her current portfolio includes social security and ecclesiastical affairs. While in opposition, she served as the shadow minister
of tourism for the NDC.
Roberts was born in very humble circumstances in the rural parish of St David and is a product of the renowned St. Joseph's Convent of St. George's, founded in 1875 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny
. She is married and has four children. Roberts worked for the European Commission
in Grenada for twenty years prior to seeking elective office.
During the election of 2008, she received 55% of the votes cast in defeating for a second time the New National Party
candidate Ann David-Antoine. Roberts won in all but one of the 25 polling divisions in her constituency. Her popular vote total was the second highest in the election.
Roberts has long been active in a variety of civil society and community organisations, particularly around social and health policy issues. She was a member of the Willie Redhead Foundation which was active in advocating environmental awareness in Grenada. She is also a cricket
enthusiast and a netball
player and served as manager of the national netball team. She remains an active member of her Blessed Sacrament RC parish
.
As a minister of government, she has so far managed to maintain a modest popularity and enjoys good relations with both labour leaders and the island's hoteliers. Roberts has been an outspoken critic of domestic violence and a strong advocate of families and children. She was also chair of the Mercy Committee that oversaw the recent release from prison of former deputy prime minister Bernard Coard
and six other men for their involvement in the death of the late prime minister Maurice Bishop
in 1983.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the tri-island nation of Grenada
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
, Carriacou and Petite Martinique
Carriacou and Petite Martinique
Carriacou and Petite Martinique is the dependency of Grenada, lying north of Grenada island and south of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the Lesser Antilles. The Grenadine islands to the north of Carriacou and Petite Martinique belong to the nation of St...
. She was first elected to parliament in 2003 and represents the St George South
Saint George Parish, Grenada
Saint George is one of the parishes of Grenada, located on the south-western end of the island. The capital of Grenada, St. George, is located in this parish, and it is regarded as the most picturesque capital in the Caribbean. Its horseshoe-shaped harbour is surrounded by the pastel colors of...
constituency for the National Democratic Congress
National Democratic Congress (Grenada)
The National Democratic Congress is a liberal centre-left political party in Grenada. Tillman Thomas is the party's leader, Nazim Burke is its deputy leader, and Peter David is its General Secretary...
(NDC) in the House of Representatives of Grenada
House of Representatives of Grenada
The House of Representatives is the lower house of the Parliament of Grenada. It has 15 members, elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies. The members are, for each seat and party, listed below:-Summary 2008 election:...
. The House of Representatives is the lower house of the Parliament of Grenada. It has 15 members, elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies.
The St George South constituency, based in the southernmost part of Grenada, covers the communities of Calliste, True Blue, L'Anse aux Épines, Frequente, Grand Anse, Grand Anse Valley, Woburn, Springs and Belmont. It also takes in the Maurice Bishop International Airport in Point Salines, the world famous Grand Anse beach and St. George's University
St. George's University
St. George’s University is an independent international university in Grenada, West Indies, offering degrees in medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, the health sciences, nursing, arts and sciences, and business....
. Most of Grenada's major hotels are concentrated in the district.
Roberts, one of only two elected female members of Grenada's parliament
House of Representatives of Grenada
The House of Representatives is the lower house of the Parliament of Grenada. It has 15 members, elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies. The members are, for each seat and party, listed below:-Summary 2008 election:...
, currently serves as Grenada's Minister of Labour. She was Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation until the November 2010 cabinet reshuffle. She is also the former Treasurer of the ruling NDC party. She had an original stint as Minister of Social Development and Labour during the first year of the NDC's return to government in 2008 before being transferred to the tourism portfolio. Her current portfolio includes social security and ecclesiastical affairs. While in opposition, she served as the shadow minister
Shadow Cabinet
The Shadow Cabinet is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster system of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition form an alternative cabinet to the government's, whose members shadow or mark each individual member of the government...
of tourism for the NDC.
Roberts was born in very humble circumstances in the rural parish of St David and is a product of the renowned St. Joseph's Convent of St. George's, founded in 1875 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny
Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in 1807. Located around the world, its members perform a variety of charitable works, but they devote themselves especially to missionary work and providing education for the poor....
. She is married and has four children. Roberts worked for the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
in Grenada for twenty years prior to seeking elective office.
During the election of 2008, she received 55% of the votes cast in defeating for a second time the New National Party
New National Party (Grenada)
The New National Party is a conservative political party in Grenada. It is led by the Leader of the Opposition, Keith Mitchell.The party was founded in August 1984 through the merger of the Grenada National Party, led by Herbert Blaize, the National Democratic Party, led by George Brizan, and the...
candidate Ann David-Antoine. Roberts won in all but one of the 25 polling divisions in her constituency. Her popular vote total was the second highest in the election.
Roberts has long been active in a variety of civil society and community organisations, particularly around social and health policy issues. She was a member of the Willie Redhead Foundation which was active in advocating environmental awareness in Grenada. She is also a cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
enthusiast and a netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
player and served as manager of the national netball team. She remains an active member of her Blessed Sacrament RC parish
Parish (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, a parish is the lowest ecclesiastical geographical subdivision: from ecclesiastical province to diocese to deanery to parish.-Requirements:A parish needs two things under common law to become a parish...
.
As a minister of government, she has so far managed to maintain a modest popularity and enjoys good relations with both labour leaders and the island's hoteliers. Roberts has been an outspoken critic of domestic violence and a strong advocate of families and children. She was also chair of the Mercy Committee that oversaw the recent release from prison of former deputy prime minister Bernard Coard
Bernard Coard
Winston Bernard Coard was Grenadian Deputy Prime Minister in the People's Revolutionary Government of the New Jewel Movement, who placed Maurice Bishop under house arrest and took control of the government on 14 October 1983....
and six other men for their involvement in the death of the late prime minister Maurice Bishop
Maurice Bishop
Maurice Rupert Bishop was a Grenadian politician and revolutionary who seized power in a coup in 1979 from Eric Gairy and served as Prime Minister of the People's Revolutionary Government of Grenada until 1983, when he was overthrown in another coup by Bernard Coard, a member of his own...
in 1983.