ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Joan Purcell, the former political leader of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), has been honored with the title of Dame Commander by King Charles III.
Purcell led the party into the 1999 general election, which the New National Party (NNP) won, winning all 15 seats in the Parliament. He is one of four Grenadians honored by the King on his 2024 Birthday Honours List.
The honor is given for a pre-eminent contribution to any field of activity. She is honored for her services to Government and Community.
Purcell has been involved in national politics for over 30 years as a legislator and cabinet minister and has written and published six books, including “Memoirs of a Woman in Politics: Spiritual Struggle”. She has also served as a bible teacher, spiritual director, and community activist in church and Community.
She graduated from the University of the West Indies (UWI), the University of Toronto, and the Ontario Institute for Education.
The other citizen honored is Agnes Dorothy Lessey, who has been made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the Community. The British Empire Medal (BEM) was awarded to Elizabeth Forsyth for services to Education and to Gerard Bethel for services to Entrepreneurship in the Fishing Industry.
The names were first published in the June 14 edition of the London Gazette and then in an extraordinary edition of the Government of Grenada Gazette dated June 17, 2024.
The King’s Official Birthday is the selected day in most Commonwealth countries on which the birthday of the Monarch is officially celebrated. It does not necessarily correspond to the date of the Monarch’s actual birth. For 2024, it was observed last Saturday.
Purcell, who will now be referred to as Dame, is the second former political leader to be honored by King Charles during the Dickon Mitchell administration that came to office in office in June 2022.
Former prime minister Tillman Thomas was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to Grenada on the King’s 2023 Birthday Honours List.
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