Paula Frances Beaubrun (1928 – 3 August 1994) was a Grenadian-born, Saint Lucian barrister, who was the first woman to be appointed to the post of Attorney General of the British Virgin Islands.

Paula Beaubrun

Biography edit

Beaubrun was born in 1928 in St George's, Grenada,[1][2][3] to Clytie and Ignatius Cecil Beaubrun [Wikidata], in a family of seven children. The family lived in Grenada, Barbados and Trinidad, before settling in Saint Lucia.[4][5] Her father was the first West Indian to be appointed Colonial Treasurer.[6][3] Her brother Michael Beaubrun,[note 1] was Professor of Psychiatry at the University of the West Indies and, from 1976 to 1981, was a senator for Trinidad and Tobago.[7][3]

From 1958 to 1960 she was joint treasurer of the British-Caribbean Association, subsequently joining its executive committee.[8] On 4 November 1960 she entered Lincoln's Inn to study law.[9] After returning to the Caribbean, she became the first woman to be appointed to the post of Attorney General of the British Virgin Islands.[10][11][12][13] In the first instance she held the role of acting attorney general from 1 July 1972 to 30 June 1973, which was followed by her appointment as attorney general from 1 July 1973 to 25 July 1977.[14]

As a member of the formative Steering Committee of the Saint Lucia Sickle Cell Association alongside Ira Simmons, Beaubrun was instrumental in its establishment.[15] She was also President of the Saint Lucia Cancer Society.[15][16] In 1989 she lived in Saint Lucia and had a reputation as an expert on fruit trees of the Caribbean.[17] She died on 3 August 1994 and is buried alongside her father Ignatius Cecil Beaubrun, OBE, in Castries City Cemetery, Saint Lucia.[18][better source needed]

Office edit

Preceded by
Nolan Jacobs
Attorney General of the British Virgin Islands
2007-2011
Succeeded by
Clare I. Roberts

Notes edit

  1. ^ He is referred to as Matthew in the News Journal,[3] but appears to be a mistake.

References edit

  1. ^ Who's Who in the World. Third edition, 1976-1977. Wilmette, IL: Marquis Who's Who, 1976
  2. ^ Shulterbrandt, Eldra (1976). Proceedings of the Caribbean Institute on Alcoholism, June 17-26, 1975, June 1-12, 1976: College of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The College.
  3. ^ a b c d Constable, George (1 September 1974). "Famous people mix on islands". News Journal. p. 32. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Cicely Monica Giraudy". St. Lucia News From The Voice. 2016-07-25. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  5. ^ "Kensington's Part in new Caribbean Association". Kensington Post. 13 March 1959. p. 5.
  6. ^ "Oaths Administered". Kingston Daily Gleaner. 14 October 1930. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Icons". The National Institute of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (NIHERST). Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  8. ^ "Newsletter no.3, the British-Caribbean Association". mrc-catalogue.warwick.ac.uk. 1960. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  9. ^ The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn (1981). Admissions Registers VOL 4 1957-1973 & CHAPEL REGISTERS 1905 1973.
  10. ^ Shulterbrandt, Eldra (1976). Proceedings of the Caribbean Institute on Alcoholism, June 17-26, 1975, June 1-12, 1976: College of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The College.
  11. ^ Brathwaite, Joan A. (1999). Women and the Law: A Bibliographical Survey of Legal and Quasi-legal Materials with Special Reference to Commonwealth Caribbean Jurisdictions and Including Relevant Commonwealth Caribbean Legislation and Case Material. University of the West Indies Press. ISBN 978-976-640-069-9.
  12. ^ The Caribbean Year Book. Caribook, Limited. 1978.
  13. ^ "British Virgin Islands Ministers". www.guide2womenleaders.com. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  14. ^ "BVI election and information results 1950–2011" (PDF). BVI Deputy Governor's Office. pp. 185–186. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2014.
  15. ^ a b "About". slusicklecell.com. St. Lucia Sickle Cell Association. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  16. ^ "About". stluciacancersociety.org. Saint Lucia Cancer Society. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
  17. ^ Dick-Read, Sally (December 1989). "A Bountiful Haven on Tortola" (PDF). American Horticulturalist. 68 (12): 28.
  18. ^ "Paula F. Beaubrun (1929-1994) - Find a Grave..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2022-05-08.