Karen Malcolm (born 1963) is a politician in the Turks and Caicos Islands. From 2016 to 2021, she was a member of the House of Assembly and the islands' minister of education, youth, culture, social, and library services.

Biography edit

Malcolm was born in 1963 in Back Salina, Grand Turk Island. She was raised there and then in the Bahamas, where she was sent to live after her mother died when she was eight years old.[1]

She became the first employee from Turks and Caicos of the Bank of Nova Scotia Bahamas, where she worked first in the Bahamas and then back in Turks and Caicos beginning in 1982.[1] In addition to her work as a banker, Malcolm has been involved in several NGOs and nonprofits, including Soroptimist International and the Child Evangelism Fellowship.[1][2]

Malcolm ran as a member of the People's Democratic Movement in the December 2016 election, winning an at-large seat in the House of Assembly.[3][4]

She was elected deputy speaker of the House of Assembly shortly thereafter.[5][3]

In June 2017, she was appointed minister of education, youth, culture, social, and library services, replacing Josephine Connolly, after Connolly was fired from the cabinet over "claims of insolence and falsehood."[3][6][7] Malcolm also continued in her role as deputy speaker.[7]

As part of her role as education minister, she oversaw the response of the country's education system to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

In the 2021 Turks and Caicos Islands general election, Malcolm lost her at-large seat in the House of Assembly as the rival Progressive National Party swept into power.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Hon. Karen Evadine Malcolm". Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  2. ^ "Karen Malcolm appointed as CEF National Coordinator". Turks and Caicos Weekly News. 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  3. ^ a b c Defralien, Todeline (2017-06-30). "Karen Malcolm appointed new Minister of Education". The Sun Turks & Caicos. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  4. ^ "Turks and Caicos Islands General Election Results 2016". Caribbean Elections. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  5. ^ "Turks and Caicos: Where women hold the top jobs". BBC News. 2017-01-29. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  6. ^ "Hon. Karen Malcolm attends UWI/DISES International conference in Jamaica". The Sun Turks & Caicos. 2019-07-19. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  7. ^ a b "'Committed and dedicated' - Karen Malcolm sworn-in as new education minister". Turks and Caicos Weekly News. 2017-06-26. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  8. ^ Rose, Olivia (2020-09-04). "Roadmap for the reopening of schools unveiled". Turks and Caicos Weekly News. Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  9. ^ "2021 AT LARGE CANDIDATES ELECTION RESULTS". Elections Department | Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Retrieved 2021-02-22.