Last Updated on October 26, 2022, 1:53 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The members of the parliament of St Kitts and Nevis have elected Lanien Blanchette into the position of the new Speaker of the House of Assembly.
Lanien Blanchette is the third female Speaker of the House for St Kitts and Nevis. She succeeded Ada Mae Edward, the first elected female Speaker in St Kitts and Nevis, in 1978. This appointment was before the nation gained its independence in the year 1983.
Following this, Marcella Liburd was the second female Speaker of the house of Assembly. In official terms, Liburd was the first female Speaker post-independence.
The members of the parliament elected the Speaker and Deputy speaker during the Opening event of the New Session of the National Assembly.
St Kitts and Nevis opened the new session of the National Assembly on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.
Sources of the government describe Lanien Blanchette as a value-driven Attorney-At-Law raised in the community of Saddlers. She has been residing in Green Valley, Cayon, for almost the last 14 years. Green Valley is her father’s hometown.
In 2008, Lanein received her bachelor’s degree from Monroe College in New York with Honours in Criminal Justice. Following her return, she started working in a secretarial position in 2009 at the Ministry of National Security.
After being introduced to public service, she found within herself a passion for helping others. Meanwhile, her role in the Ministry (of national security) exposed her to matters that further aroused her curiosity and desire to explore the field of Criminal Law and the Justice System.
In 2012, Lanien Blanchette enrolled in the Bachelor of Laws programme at the University of West Indies, Cave Hill Campus (Barbados). While at the university, Blanchette served as Vice President of the St. Kitts Nevis Student Association and was also elected Law Society Sports Chairperson 2014-2015, where she was able to continue to pursue her passion for sports alongside her studies.
Lanien graduated with honours in the year 2015. Following this, she moved on to pursue intense legal training at the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica. Here she obtained her Legal Education Certificate in 2017.
Lanien’s personal mantra is to “finish the race strong, no matter how long or hard, slow, and steady at all times.”
Lanien is the founder and Lead Counsel at Blanchette Law Chambers. Her election to the Speaker of the House is in keeping with the government’s outlook in ensuring that gender equality is a priority and that women and youth are empowered to serve at the decision-making level in the government of St Kitts and Nevis.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
