Lee Moore

From 1979 to 1980, Mr. Lee Llewellyn Moore served as the premier of Saint Kitts and Nevis. He belonged to Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party as well. In 1967, Lee started working as an assistant to Prime Minister Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw. In 1971, he was named attorney general, and appointed Deputy Prime Minister in Paul Southwell's cabinet.

On February 15, 1939, Lee Llewellyn Moore was born at Half Way Tree, St. Kitts. He is the child of St. Kitts residents Daphne Moore and Theophilus Penny. Lee Moore was the sole child of his maid mother, Mrs. Moore. He started Middle Island Public School when he was five years old. Mother and daughter's life was fairly comfortable up until the day their Godwin Ghaut garbage house burned down. When Lee was eight years old, the family moved into a rented home and things started to get tight financially.

Lee Moore was awarded a government scholarship to St. Kitts and Nevis in 1952, valued at $50.40 per year. Despite the challenging circumstances, his mother is certain that her son will not lose this educational chance. The scholarship covers all of his costs, with the exception of the uniform and game fees. Young Moore continued to receive the Leeward Islands Scholarship five years later. Many had hoped that he would study medicine but he opted to pursue a career in law instead. He worked at the School of Grammar for eighteen months as a master's assistant before enrolling at University London to pursue a career in law. He worked at the London Stock Exchange during the summer holiday to supplement his income. He received both a law degree with honors and a theology degree in 1962. He qualified for the position of Vice-Chancellor of King's College and received the Jelf Medal from the Faculty of Law. After a year, Lee Moore received a Master's degree and was admitted to the Central Temple Association's Honorary Chamber. He began working as a lecturer in law at the City of Birmingham after completing further coursework.

He was a victorious candidate in the New State during his first election in 1971. By 826 votes to 682, he defeated People's Action Movement founder and president William Herbert. He received the job of Attorney General from Prime Minister Bradshaw, which he held until 1979. As he took the political stage, Lee Moore issued the following challenge to the opposition: "Whoever wants, this is power; who does not want, this is peace; who does not want, this is love; who does not want, this is friendship". Some segments of the population found him unpopular because of his blunt political views.

Lee L. Moore was appointed as a non-resident Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to the UN following the Labor Party's victory in 1995. In his new post, he is in charge of advising the government on matters such as the ratification of treaties and conventions as well as the government's stance toward foreign nations and the UN. In 1998, he was able to establish diplomatic ties with South Africa in this role. He was also asked to join a two-person group that was looking at ways to improve political unity involving Barbados and OECS members.

At the age of 61, Sir Lee Moore passed away from prostate cancer on May 6, 2000, at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York, USA. Sir Lee is buried at Springfield Cemetery, Saint Kitts. Thanks to her extraordinary academic prowess, talent, love of her nation, and dedication to regional integration, he made his mark on St. Kitts and the rest of the Caribbean. On Wednesday, September 16, 2004, a federal holiday known as National Heroes Day, the Court Building on Independence Square East in Basseterre was renamed Sir Lee Llewellyn Moore's Judicial and Legal Services Complex in his honor. With his achievements, Lee Moore deserves to be an Important Historical Figure in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

In sum, Sir Lee Llewellyn Moore:

• was prime minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis from 1979 to 1980.
• was born into a normal family, and went through many periods of financial hardship.
• worked at the Grammar School as a master's assistant before enrolling at the University of London to pursue a career in law.
• was appointed Non-Resident Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to the UN, advising the government on issues such as the ratification of treaties and conventions.
• passed away from prostate cancer on May 6, 2000, at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York, USA, and was buried at Springfield Cemetery, Saint Kitts.