Paula Cox
Encyclopedia
Paula Cox is the current Premier of Bermuda
, and leader of the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party (PLP)
. The Hon. Paula A. Cox JP, MP was elected as Leader of the Progressive Labour Party on Thursday, 28 October 2010. In accordance with the Bermuda Constitution Order 1968, she was appointed Premier of Bermuda, on Friday, 29 October 2010 by Governor Sir Richard Gozney.
in Political Science
from McGill University
in Canada
, and a post-graduate Diploma in International Law
from the University of Manchester
. She trained as a Solicitor at the College of Law, Chancery Lane, London and was called to the Bermuda Bar in January 1992. She received an honourary Doctorate in Education at the May 2004 Commencement Exercise of Wheelock College
(USA) and more recently, in 2009, was made an Honourary Alumnus of Dalhousie University
.
Following the General Election in November 1998, Mrs. Cox was appointed the first PLP Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety. Her management of that portfolio gained her added recognition when she was judged 'the most effective politician' in the Best of Bermuda Gold Awards for 2001 by the Bermudian, a prestigious and long-standing magazine in Bermuda. This achievement was then repeated in 2003.
On November 1, 2001, Minister Cox was given a new assignment and appointed the Minister of Education and Development and was later that year named in the Bermudians' Best of Bermuda Gold annual listing as the most effective politician for 2001. Following the July 2003 general election, Mrs. Cox retained her Education portfolio but was additionally appointed the Attorney-General following the retirement of the iconic former leader of the BPLP, Former member of parliament and former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dame Lois Brown-Evans, DBE, JP, MP. She served in this dual portfolio until January 2004. In 2003 she was again cited in the Bermudian's Best of Gold's annual listing as the most effective politician.
Premier Cox assumed the Finance portfolio exclusively in January 2004, succeeding her late father, the Hon. C. Eugene Cox, CBE, JP, MP and she retains the Treasury portion of that portfolio as part of her present Cabinet responsibilities. She and her father were unique in Bermuda and party politics as both were Ministers in the first PLP administration and the only serving father-daughter duo in Parliament.
Cabinet Appointments:
Premier of Bermuda October 2010 -
Minister of Finance January 2004 -
Attorney General January 2003 - 2004
Minister of Education November 2001 - 2004
Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety November 1998 - 2001
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
, and leader of the Bermuda Progressive Labour Party (PLP)
Progressive Labour Party (Bermuda)
The Progressive Labour Party is a political party in Bermuda. It has been in power since 1998, winning subsequent elections in 2003 and 2007.- Formation :...
. The Hon. Paula A. Cox JP, MP was elected as Leader of the Progressive Labour Party on Thursday, 28 October 2010. In accordance with the Bermuda Constitution Order 1968, she was appointed Premier of Bermuda, on Friday, 29 October 2010 by Governor Sir Richard Gozney.
Early Years
Cox, the only daughter born to Bermudians C. Eugene and Alinda F. Cox, spent her early years living in Sandys Parish. She attended The Berkeley Institute and later earned a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and a post-graduate Diploma in International Law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
from the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
. She trained as a Solicitor at the College of Law, Chancery Lane, London and was called to the Bermuda Bar in January 1992. She received an honourary Doctorate in Education at the May 2004 Commencement Exercise of Wheelock College
Wheelock College
Wheelock College is a private, coeducational college located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school was founded in 1888 by Lucy Wheelock. The mission of Wheelock College is to primarily improve the lives of children and families...
(USA) and more recently, in 2009, was made an Honourary Alumnus of Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
.
Political life
Mrs. Cox was first elected to Parliament in October, 1996 when she won the Devonshire North by-election (Constituency 14). A seat formally held by the then Opposition Leader, Mr. L. Frederick Wade, JP, MP. Then in her mid 30's, Mrs. Cox became one of the youngest members of the House of Assembly.Following the General Election in November 1998, Mrs. Cox was appointed the first PLP Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety. Her management of that portfolio gained her added recognition when she was judged 'the most effective politician' in the Best of Bermuda Gold Awards for 2001 by the Bermudian, a prestigious and long-standing magazine in Bermuda. This achievement was then repeated in 2003.
On November 1, 2001, Minister Cox was given a new assignment and appointed the Minister of Education and Development and was later that year named in the Bermudians' Best of Bermuda Gold annual listing as the most effective politician for 2001. Following the July 2003 general election, Mrs. Cox retained her Education portfolio but was additionally appointed the Attorney-General following the retirement of the iconic former leader of the BPLP, Former member of parliament and former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dame Lois Brown-Evans, DBE, JP, MP. She served in this dual portfolio until January 2004. In 2003 she was again cited in the Bermudian's Best of Gold's annual listing as the most effective politician.
Premier Cox assumed the Finance portfolio exclusively in January 2004, succeeding her late father, the Hon. C. Eugene Cox, CBE, JP, MP and she retains the Treasury portion of that portfolio as part of her present Cabinet responsibilities. She and her father were unique in Bermuda and party politics as both were Ministers in the first PLP administration and the only serving father-daughter duo in Parliament.
Cabinet Appointments:
Premier of Bermuda October 2010 -
Minister of Finance January 2004 -
Attorney General January 2003 - 2004
Minister of Education November 2001 - 2004
Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety November 1998 - 2001