Cécile La Grenade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cécile La Grenade
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La Grenade in 2022
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| Governor-General of Grenada | |
| Assumed office 7 May 2013 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II Charles III |
| Prime Minister | Keith Mitchell Dickon Mitchell |
| Preceded by | Carlyle Glean |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Cécile Ellen Fleurette La Grenade
30 December 1952 La Borie, Grenada |
| Alma mater | University of the West Indies University of Maryland, College Park |
Dame Cécile Ellen Fleurette La Grenade, born on December 30, 1952, is a Grenadian food scientist. She has been the Governor-General of Grenada since 2013. The Governor-General is the representative of the King or Queen in countries like Grenada that are part of the Commonwealth of Nations.
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Early Life and Education
Cécile La Grenade was born in La Borie, a place in Saint George Parish, Grenada. She is the third of five daughters. Her father, Allan A. La Grenade, was a civil servant, and her mother, Sibyl Sylvester-La Grenade, was a registered nurse.
Her grandmother, Mary Louise "Eva" Ollivierre-Sylvester, made history. She was the first woman in the British Windward Islands to be elected to her country's law-making council. This happened in 1952, shortly after everyone gained the right to vote.
La Grenade is a food scientist. This means she studies food to make it safer and better. She earned her first degree in chemistry from the University of the West Indies. Later, she went to the University of Maryland at College Park in the United States. There, she earned two more degrees: a master's degree and a doctorate in food science.
Before becoming Governor-General, she was involved in important work.
- In 2006, she joined the Steering Committee of the Caribbean Export Development Agency.
- From 2007 to 2010, she was the Chairman of the Public Service Commission. This role was given to her by the then Governor-General, Sir Daniel Williams.
Serving as Governor-General
Cécile La Grenade became the Governor-General of Grenada in 2013. This was announced around the same time that Dame Hilda Bynoe passed away. Dame Hilda Bynoe was Grenada's first female governor.
As Governor-General, Dame Cécile has taken part in many important events.
- In 2018, she officially opened Grenada's new Parliament building.
- Also in 2018, after an election where one party won all the seats, she made an important decision. She used her power to appoint members from the losing party to the Senate. This was done to make sure there was an opposition group in Parliament. An opposition helps keep the government in check.
- She is a strong supporter of restoring Grenada's old and historic buildings. These include Government House and York House.
Serving Two Monarchs
In September 2022, Queen Elizabeth II passed away. Dame Cécile La Grenade became the first Grenadian Governor-General to serve under two monarchs. She had served Queen Elizabeth II and now serves Charles III.
She spoke about Queen Elizabeth II, saying the Queen served with "incomparable devotion." She also said the Queen's "legacy of leadership and exemplary service shall live on indelibly." Dame Cécile represented Grenada at the Queen's funeral in the United Kingdom. In 2023, she also attended the Coronation of King Charles III alongside Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell.
Awards and Recognitions
Dame Cécile La Grenade has received several special honours for her service:
- From the Two Sicilian Royal Family:
- Knight Grand Cross of Justice of the Two Sicilian Royal Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George
- From the United Kingdom:
- Dame Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire
- Dame of the Order of St John
Images for kids
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La Grenade signing the book of condolence for Queen Elizabeth II at Lancaster House on 17 September 2022
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See also
In Spanish: Cécile La Grenade para niños
