Selwyn Richardson (30 November 1935 – 20 June 1995) was a lawyer, and former
Attorney-General of Trinidad and Tobago.
Background
After serving in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Force, Richardson left the police force and went to England to study law. Upon graduation, Richardson returned to Trinidad to practice law.
He joined the Trinidad and Tobago
People's National Movement
The People's National Movement (PNM) is the longest-serving and oldest active Politics of Trinidad and Tobago, political party in Trinidad and Tobago. The party has dominated national and local politics for much of Trinidad and Tobago's hist ...
in April 1971, and in 1972 he was selected to lead the People's National Movement team on constitutional reform for Trinidad and Tobago before the Wooding Commission.
In 1973, he was appointed a director of the T&T Telephone Company. There he earned a reputation as "Mr. Fix It", with his intolerance of corrupt practices and impatience with bureaucracy.
From 1976 to 1981, he was appointed a Senator, with the portfolio of Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs and Leader of the Senate. In 1983, he retired from active politics and was appointed Chairman of the
Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago
An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial air transport. They usually consist of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surface such ...
from 1983 to 1986.
In 1984, for his achievements and crusading zeal in the pursuit of equity, justice earned him the Trinidad & Tobago "Individual of the Year Award". In 1986, he re-entered the political arena when he won the Ortoire/Mayaro seat and was reappointed Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs. As Minister of National Security in 1990, along with the then Prime Minister A. N. R. Robinson and other parliamentary colleagues, Richardson was held hostage in The Red House (Trinidad and Tobago), The Red House (parliament building), where he was shot and beaten. Although he tendered his resignation after that incident, it was not accepted by the Prime Minister.
In 1991, Richardson once again returned to private life and his law practice
In 1995, Richardson was assassinated by unknown assailants as he was entering his driveway at the end of his working day.
References
External links
*
Members of the House of Representatives (Trinidad and Tobago)
Government ministers of Trinidad and Tobago
People's National Movement politicians
1995 deaths
1935 births
Trinidad and Tobago murder victims
People murdered in Trinidad and Tobago
Attorneys general of Trinidad and Tobago
{{Trinidad-politician-stub