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Guyanese-born Baroness appointed leader of British House of Lords

Wednesday, October 8, 2003

LONDON, England: A Guyanese-born woman, who rose to become a Baroness in England, is the new leader of the House of Lords following the sudden death of Lord Williams of Mostyn. The Financial Times recently quoted officials at Downing Street, London, as announcing the selection.

Lady Valerie Amos' appointment heightens speculation that British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, is planning a cabinet reshuffle, after Lord Hutton reports on the events leading to the death of Dr. David Kelly, FT.com said.

Lady Amos, 49, the first black woman to sit in cabinet, was appointed international development secretary earlier this year following the resignation of Ms. Clare Short. She will reportedly be replaced in that role by Mr. Hilary Benn.

Prior to her appointment as Secretary of State for International Development, Baroness Amos was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs in June 2001 with responsibility for Africa, the Commonwealth, the Caribbean, Overseas Territories, Consular Issues and FCO Personnel.

Lady Amos, according to her official bio, was also the principal spokesperson in the House of Lords on International Development as well as one of the government's spokespersons in the House of Lords on Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. She was previously a Government Whip in the House of Lords from 1998 to 2001 and also a spokesperson on Social Security, International Development and Women's Issues. She was created a life peer in August 1997.

Ms. Amos studied at the Universities of Warwick, Birmingham and East Anglia, and was awarded an Honorary Professorship at Thames Valley University in 1995 in recognition of her work on equality and social justice.

After working in Equal Opportunities, Training and Management Services in local government in the London boroughs of Lambeth, Camden and Hackney, she became Chief Executive of the Equal Opportunities Commission 1989-94. In 1995 Ms. Amos co-founded Amos Fraser Bernard and was an adviser to the South African Government on public service reform, human rights and employment equity.

In the House of Lords, Lady Amos was a co-opted member of the Select Committee on European Communities Sub-Committee F (Social Affairs, Education and Home Affairs) 1997-98.

She has also been deputy chair of the Runnymede Trust 1990-98, a Trustee of the Institute of Public Policy Research, a non-executive Director of the University College London Hospitals Trust, a Trustee of Voluntary Services Overseas, Chair of the Afiya Trust, a director of Hampstead Theatre and Chair of the Board of Governors of the Royal College of Nursing Institute.

Baroness Amos was born in the village of Wakenaam in Guyana, reports out of Guyana indicate.

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