BASSETERRE St. Kitts, January 24th, 2013 -- Jonel Powell is the Managing Partner of the law firm, Grant, Powell & Co. and a Director of its affiliate entity Gibraltar Trust Company. A lawyer by profession, Jonel has lived all his life in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Jonel's early school years were spent at Slack’s Pre School, George Moody Stuart School (Factory School) and the Newtown Primary. High School for him was the Basseterre Junior High School and the Basseterre High School respectively. He excelled in sports throughout, in particular while at the BHS. While in third form Jonel broke the "junior boys’ long jump record, which previously was unbroken for over 20 years. His record remains to date.
He went on to proudly captain Red House in fourth and fifth forms. In fifth form he captained the school’s basketball team and its track and field team. During his high school years Jonel was also a member of the Harmonites Hitters Basketball Club playing for the club’s Junior, ‘A’ and Premier divison teams. He was also a founding member and player of the Blue Devils Basketball Team.
In that year's track and field season he was BHS’ Class 2 Boys Champion and Overall Boys Champion, at the
TDC Inter-High School Championships he won Class 2 Boys Champion and Victor Ludorum runner up. He went on to represent St. Kitts at the Leeward Islands Track and Field Championships amassing 5 medals. Despite his heavy focus on sports, Jonel also amassed 9 CXC subjects with 3 distinctions. His balanced efforts led to him being named Basseterre High School’s Sportsman of the Year and the winner of the Academic and Athletic Excellence Award in 1999.
Powell attended the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College from 1999 to 2001. There he served on the Debating Society Executive for 2 years, was President of the History Club and was a member of the inaugural Student Body Council. He went on to successfully achieve 3 Cambridge A’ Level subjects at the CFBC.
Before pursuing legal studies, Jonel worked for two years at the RBC Royal Bank of Canada in St. Kitts. During his tenure he received several local and regional awards in the areas of Customer Service and Sales.
Jonel attended the University of the West Indies (Cave Hill) in Barbados from 2003 to 2006, pursuing legal studies. In Barbados he served on the executive of the St. Kitts Nevis Students Association for two years one of those as President. He also served on the Law Society executive in the capacity of Returning Officer. He maintained his interest in sports and represented the UWI Cave Hill Campus in basketball for all 3 years. In 2006 Jonel graduated with a Bachelor of Laws with Second Class Honours (Lower Division).
Next Jonel attended the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica from 2006 to 2008. There he served as President of the school’s Student Association. He graduated with a Legal Education Certificate (LEC).
Before returning to St. Kitts Jonel worked in the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla for two and a half years. There he practiced Offshore Law, Commercial Law and Corporate Litigation with two of that jurisdiction’s most prominent law firms, Webster Dyrud Mitchell and Caribbean Juris Chambers respectively. He was an active member of the Rotary Club of Anguilla and served as Vice President of that club.
Jonel also served on the periodically on as Legal Advisor to the Board of Directors of the Caribbean Commercial Bank. He had the opportunity to be a substitute Law teacher at the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School. He was also involved with many legal aid matters in Court. His love for Carnival saw him judging several shows for the Anguilla Summer Festival during his time in Anguilla.
In 2011 Jonel returned to St. Kitts and established the Law Firm of Grant, Powell & Co. with Lawyer and longtime friend Lindsay Grant. Since his return home Jonel has contributed to many social causes and has taken particular interest in the Garden Hotspurs Football Club, which he supported as a boy.
Jonel grew up in the McKnight area. He attended the Roman Catholic Church in Basseterre where he was baptized, made First Communion and was Confirmed. He was an acolyte in that church for many years before leaving to study.
Although his participation in sports is now limited to Sunday football games and golf, he is an avid spectator of all sports, basketball , cricket and football in particular. Manchester United Football Club being dear to his heart.
Jonel is a lover of Carnival and a regular participant here in St. Kitts in both J’Ouvert and Parade troupes. Most recently he played mas with childhood friend Keshawn “Banker” Walwyn of Banker Mas Camp, which won best Troupe. Jonel boasts of having played mas in at least 6 carnivals across the region.
A Peoples Action Movement supporter from birth, Jonel has been politically active from youth through the Young Pamites Group. He later, at the young age of 19 served on the Central Basseterre Constituency Group Executive as Deputy Chairperson and Acting Chairperson. Today he serves as Deputy Chairperson of PAM and has put himself forward as a potential candidate for Constituency 2 as he is eager and ready to continue his service to his community and country.
Jonel is willing, able, capable and ready to rebuild Central Basseterre and the Country One Vote at a time .
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