Brenda Christian
Encyclopedia
Brenda Vera Amelia Lupton-Christian (b. February 25, 1953) is a political figure from the Pacific territory of the Pitcairn Islands
.
, following her brother Steve Christian
's dismissal by the colonial
Governor, in the wake of his rape convictions
on 30 October 2004.
, the former Magistrate (whose office was renamed Mayor in 1999 following a constitutional revision). Her stated goal as mayor of the Pitcairn Islands was to make the islands a more attractive destination for tourism
.
. She resided in the United Kingdom
for a time, but returned to the island around 1999 and has served as the island's sole police officer. Except for 2003, she has been a member of the Island Council
since 2000.
Pitcairn Islands
The Pitcairn Islands , officially named the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, form a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. The islands are a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union in the Pacific...
.
Mayor of the Pitcairn Islands (acting)
In 2004 Brenda Christian served as the territory as its first female Mayor from 8 November to 15 December 2004. She was appointed to the Mayoralty in an interim capacity by the Island CouncilIsland Council (Pitcairn)
The Island Council is the legislative body of the Pitcairn Islands. It also doubles as the court of the British dependency, making it one of the few bodies in the world to possess both legislative and judicial authority.The Council has ten members...
, following her brother Steve Christian
Steve Christian
Steven Raymond Christian is a political figure from the Pacific territory of the Pitcairn Islands.-Mayor:...
's dismissal by the colonial
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
Governor, in the wake of his rape convictions
Pitcairn sexual assault trial of 2004
On 30 September 2004, seven men living on Pitcairn Island , went on trial facing 55 charges relating to sexual offences. On 24 October, all but one of the defendants were found guilty on at least some of the charges they faced...
on 30 October 2004.
Election and policies
She stood for election in her own right, but in the special election held on 15 December, she was defeated by Jay WarrenJay Warren
Jay Calvin Warren is a political figure from the Pacific territory of the Pitcairn Islands.-Political roles:Jay Warren was elected Mayor of the last remaining British dependency in Oceania in the general election held on 15 December 2004, defeating Brenda Christian, who had held the Mayoralty in...
, the former Magistrate (whose office was renamed Mayor in 1999 following a constitutional revision). Her stated goal as mayor of the Pitcairn Islands was to make the islands a more attractive destination for tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
.
Background
Christian was born and raised on Pitcairn and is the daughter of former island political leader Ivan ChristianIvan Christian
Ivan Roa Christian is a former politician from Pitcairn. He was the Chief Magistrate of Pitcairn Island from 1976 to 1984. As his surname suggests, he is descended from the original mutineers who settled the island, led by Fletcher Christian...
. She resided in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for a time, but returned to the island around 1999 and has served as the island's sole police officer. Except for 2003, she has been a member of the Island Council
Island Council (Pitcairn)
The Island Council is the legislative body of the Pitcairn Islands. It also doubles as the court of the British dependency, making it one of the few bodies in the world to possess both legislative and judicial authority.The Council has ten members...
since 2000.