Sir Richard Cheltenham

Dr The Hon Sir Richard Cheltenham, KA, QC, PhD, JP, is a prominent Caribbean lawyer. He has made many appearances before the judicial committee of the Privy Council (UK).

Born in 1941, Sir Richard received his early education in Barbados and thereafter attended the universities of the West Indies, McGill and Manchester. In addition, he is a member of the Middle Temple and was called to the Bar of England and Wales in July of 1970.

Sir Richard has practised with large success at both the criminal and civil Bars. He appeared in over 100 murder cases, as defence counsel and in recent years, prosecuted a dozen murder cases for the government of St Kitts/Nevis. He has also been retained by both the American and Canadian governments in prosecuting high-profile extradition cases in the Eastern Caribbean.

An acknowledged specialist in Commissions of Inquiry, he has served since 1991 on several commissions in the region, both as counsel or as sole commissioner.

Sir Richard has spent 35 years in the public life of Barbados and served in the House of Assembly for 23 years. He has held ministerial positions in agriculture, tourism and the environment.

A family man with five children, Sir Richard has wide interests including cricket, music, Barbadian history and international affairs. He received his country’s highest honour – Knight of St Andrew – in 2005 for distinguished service to law, public life and community service. For the last 13 years he has been a member of the Barbados Privy Council.