Hazelyn Francis is a politician, former teacher, and trade-union leader from Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda is a twin-island nation lying between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It consists of two major inhabited islands, Antigua and Barbuda, and a number of smaller islands...

. She currently serves as President

President of the Senate

The President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate, and is the speaker of other assemblies.The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's succession for its top executive office: for example, the President of the Senate of Nigeria is second in line...

 of that country's Senate

Senate of Antigua and Barbuda

The Senate is the Upper House of Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda. It consists of 17 members appointed by the Governor General. Ten Members are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister, four on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, one on the advice of the Barbuda Council, one resident...

.

Francis served as president of the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers from 1995 to 1998. On 27 March 2004 she was appointed to the Senate. She served as Vice President of the Senate in 2004–05, and was elected President of the Senate

President of the Senate

The President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate, and is the speaker of other assemblies.The senate president often ranks high in a jurisdiction's succession for its top executive office: for example, the President of the Senate of Nigeria is second in line...

on 7 January 2005.

On 28 October 2005, she was violently attacked, robbed, and raped in her home, and was briefly hospitalised as a result.
The incident served to intensify the debate around high levels of crime and prompted a review of security arrangements for government officials.