Meralda Warren
Encyclopedia
Meralda Elva Junior Warren (born June 28, 1959) is a Pitcairn Island
nurse, radio operator (ZBP, 1988–1995), artist, and author of the cookbook
Taste of Pitcairn (1986). She has been involved in the politics of Pitcairn
and is a poet.
, where she has continued to serve intermittently over the ensuing two decades; 1994 to 1998 was her longest period out of office. She also served as the island's sole police officer from 1996 to 2001, when she was succeeded by Brenda Christian
, who served as the interim Mayor of Pitcairn from 8 November to 15 December 2004. Meralda Warren herself was elected to the council in the general election
held on 15 December 2004.
, who was Magistrate of Pitcairn Island from 1990–1999, and who was elected to the Mayoralty on 15 December 2004, following his acquittal on charges of sexual assault
(see Pitcairn sexual assault trial of 2004
). On her website, Meralda praises the six men convicted of various sexual offenses, declaring them to be honourable men who once saved her life. Warren, who says she became sexually active at the age of 12, is a vocal defender of Pitcairn's alleged acceptance and practice of sexual activity from puberty
onwards.
On 28 September 2004, Meralda Warren went public with her conspiracy theory
when she accused the British
government of orchestrating the trial of her brother and six other Pitcairn men, in order to find an excuse to "close down" the island, Britain's last remaining colony
in Oceania
. "They've picked on all the viable young men, the ones who are the backbone of this place," she said.
and in English
.
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...
nurse, radio operator (ZBP, 1988–1995), artist, and author of the cookbook
Cookbook
A cookbook is a kitchen reference that typically contains a collection of recipes. Modern versions may also include colorful illustrations and advice on purchasing quality ingredients or making substitutions...
Taste of Pitcairn (1986). She has been involved in the politics of Pitcairn
Politics of the Pitcairn Islands
Politics of the Pitcairn Islands takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency, whereby the Mayor is the head of government. The territories constitution is the Local Government Ordinance of 1964. In terms of population, the Pitcairn Islands is the smallest...
and is a poet.
Political role
She was first elected in 1985 to 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...
, where she has continued to serve intermittently over the ensuing two decades; 1994 to 1998 was her longest period out of office. She also served as the island's sole police officer from 1996 to 2001, when she was succeeded by Brenda Christian
Brenda Christian
Brenda Vera Amelia Lupton-Christian is a political figure from the Pacific territory of the Pitcairn Islands.-Mayor of the Pitcairn Islands :...
, who served as the interim Mayor of Pitcairn from 8 November to 15 December 2004. Meralda Warren herself was elected to the council in the general election
Pitcairn Islands election, 2004
An election was held in the Pitcairn Islands, the last remaining British dependency in Oceania, to elect a Mayor, a Council Chairman, and four Councillors to sit on the Island Council...
held on 15 December 2004.
Controversies
Warren is the sister of 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...
, who was Magistrate of Pitcairn Island from 1990–1999, and who was elected to the Mayoralty on 15 December 2004, following his acquittal on charges of sexual assault
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
(see Pitcairn sexual assault trial of 2004
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 her website, Meralda praises the six men convicted of various sexual offenses, declaring them to be honourable men who once saved her life. Warren, who says she became sexually active at the age of 12, is a vocal defender of Pitcairn's alleged acceptance and practice of sexual activity from puberty
Puberty
Puberty is the process of physical changes by which a child's body matures into an adult body capable of reproduction, as initiated by hormonal signals from the brain to the gonads; the ovaries in a girl, the testes in a boy...
onwards.
On 28 September 2004, Meralda Warren went public with her conspiracy theory
Conspiracy theory
A conspiracy theory explains an event as being the result of an alleged plot by a covert group or organization or, more broadly, the idea that important political, social or economic events are the products of secret plots that are largely unknown to the general public.-Usage:The term "conspiracy...
when she accused the British
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...
government of orchestrating the trial of her brother and six other Pitcairn men, in order to find an excuse to "close down" the island, Britain's last remaining colony
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...
in Oceania
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
. "They've picked on all the viable young men, the ones who are the backbone of this place," she said.
Poetry in Pitkern and in English
Warren is also a poet, writing in PitkernPitkern
Pitkern is a creole language based on an 18th century dialect of English and Tahitian. It is a primary language of Pitcairn Island with fewer than 100 speakers worldwide. However, the closely related Norfuk language has a few thousand native speakers...
and in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.