Shawn Richards | |
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Deputy Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis | |
In office 22 February 2015 –May 2022 [1] | |
Prime Minister | Timothy Harris |
Preceded by | Earl Asim Martin |
Succeeded by | Eugene Hamilton |
Minister of Education,Youth,Sport and Culture | |
In office 22 February 2015 –2022? | |
Prime Minister | Timothy Harris |
Personal details | |
Born | Shawn Kenneth Richards 8 December 1972 |
Political party | People's Action Movement |
Alma mater | Cleveland State University,University of the Virgin Islands |
Shawn Kenneth Richards (born 8 December 1972) is a Kittitian politician from the People's Action Movement (PAM). [2] He currently serves as a member of the National Assembly,and was formerly the party leader of PAM and Deputy Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Richards was first elected as a member of the National Assembly of Saint Kitts and Nevis for the St Christopher #5 constituency in the 2010 election, [3] and was re-elected at the 2015,2020,and 2022 elections. In 2012,he became leader of PAM.
Richards was the Deputy Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis from 2015 until 2022,when he was fired by Timothy Harris upon the collapse of the Team Unity alliance. [4] In 2024,he stepped down as leader of PAM,and was succeeded by Natasha Grey-Brookes.
Richards completed his higher education in the United States at Cleveland State University and then the University of the Virgin Islands. He qualified as a Certified Public Accountant in 2002 and worked as an auditor in Saint Kitts and Nevis. [2] He renounced his American citizenship in 2009 during the debate on the National Assembly Elections (Amendment) Bill,which barred dual citizens from standing for election. [5]
Then Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas was very instrumental in the move to get rid of both Mr. Shawn Richards and Mr. Lindsay Grant in the then upcoming 2010 General Elections. The PAM candidates, the Hon Lindsay Grant and Hon Shawn Richards journeyed to Barbados where they renounced their US Citizenship and relinquished their US passports.