Anesia Baptiste earns LLB degree

Thirty-three-year-old Founder and leader of the Democratic Republican Party Anesia Baptiste graduated from the University of London’s International Programmes with a Bachelor of Laws degree – LLB with second class honours.{{more}}

Baptiste, who completed the programme in August 2013, was among hundreds of international students who were presented, at the Barbican Centre in London, before Princess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, who is also the University of London’s Chancellor.

In the prestigious ceremony, characterized by royal processional music, Vice Chancellor Sir Arthur Smith reminded graduates that by statute 4.1 of the University of London they are a part of the membership of the University of London, together with the Chancellor, the Board of trustees, staff and other key persons of the University. Sir Adrian Smith also admonished students to use their educational qualifications not only for personal advancement, but also to serve others.

Baptiste, who is a 1998 SVG National Scholarship holder and the first young woman political party leader in SVG, now joins former graduates of the University of London, such as late President of South Africa Nelson Mandela, who also studied for the LLB by distance with the University of London while in prison on Robben Island.

Speaking of her success, Baptiste said: “In leadership roles, it is always important to stay focused and to continue to build one’s competence in fields required for effective fulfilment of duty. I intend to use the knowledge gained in this program to strengthen my service to all our people.” Baptiste also declared: “I feel privileged to be a graduate of the prestigious University of London, which ranks 24th in the 2014 list of the world’s top 100 universities. I remain grateful to YHWH God and to those who have supported and helped me in tangible and intangible ways throughout this process and through all the changing scenes of my life.”

The DRP leader acquired an LLB, which is called a Qualifying Law Degree, that is, it qualifies her to practice Law in England and Wales, after the Bar Professional Training Course. Baptiste has now added the LLB to her list of other academic achievements. She is the holder of a Bachelor of Arts degree in French (major) with Linguistics minor from the University of the West Indies St Augustine Campus, Trinidad. She also holds a Double Masters degree in Hotel & Tourism Management from the Vatel Institute in Nimes and the University of Perpignan, Perpignan, South of France.