Government of Dominica

LATE SPEAKER ALIX-BOYD-KNIGHTS TO BE ACCORDED A STATE FUNERAL

The Late speaker of the Dominica House of Assembly Hon. Alix Boyd Knights who passed away on Tuesday 29 August 2023 will be accorded a State Funeral.   

Making the announcement at a news conference on Wednesday, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit outlined some of the late former Speaker’s major lifetime accomplishments.

“Alix Boyd Knights was a distinguished Dominican attorney and women and children rights advocate who served as speaker of the House of Assembly from 2000 to 2020 when she was named Speaker Emerita. During her long tenure as Speaker of the House of Assembly, She executed her duties with passion and dedication. She was firm and no nonsense and insisted on upholding strict Parliamentary procedures and the rules of the House.  Her approach to leadership in the House and as Chairman of the Parliamentary Women’s Association served as a sound example for women seeking to fill similar leadership roles,” PM Skerrit stated.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the role that the late speaker played in securing a suite of family related legislation meant to protect children and families.

“Speaker Boyd-Knights devoted much of her life’s work to the defense of women rights and the protection of children in our society. She advocated with this government over many years, for the strengthening of the laws pertaining to domestic violence, child maintenance and the status of our children; and I daresay she was very successful in this endeavor; and I am happy that we were able to bring five family protection laws to the Parliament during her lifetime in April 2023. As Prime Minister, I held her in the highest regard personally and professionally. As political leader of the Dominica Labour Party, she was a valued colleague and counselor, not only to the party but to myself as party leader,” he noted.

Prime Minister Skerrit said Mrs. Boyd-Knights will be accorded a sendoff befitting someone who was held in such high esteem.

“I treasured her sound advice on political matters and I am thankful for her support of me and my colleagues over many years. I extend most heartfelt condolences to her family, her children and her grandson Senator Hon. Phillip Rolle who now serves as Deputy Speaker to the House of Assembly. As a former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Alix Boyd-Knights will be afforded a State Funeral, and I am departing form the norm because of the high regard and her contribution to the country for over twenty years as Speaker of the House of Assembly.  The Government of Dominica will provide further details on these arrangements at a subsequent date,” PM Skerrit added.

 

 

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