V. Nazim Burke
Apart from his many years of work experience in both Grenada and North America (Canada), he possesses significant knowledge and experience related to the challenges and imperatives of the other OECS and CARICOM Countries, in particular, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in general.
Between 2008 and 2013, he served as Grenada’s Minister of Finance, Planning, Economy, Energy and Cooperatives; and as its Minister of Foreign Trade of Grenada between July 2008 and July 2009. In addition, he was a member of Grenada’s Parliament- both the Upper and Lower Houses- for fifteen years- between 2003 and 2018. Between 2014 – 2018 he served as the political leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) the party which now forms the Government of Grenada.
His extensive knowledge and experience in Law, Economics, International Development (including Development Finance), International Trade, Public Finance Management and Energy is combined with years of knowledge and practical experience in organizational leadership, management, policy development, parliamentary procedure and teaching and training.
He possesses a sound command of English- both written and spoken- and a basic working knowledge of Spanish. Public speaking and technical writing have featured prominently in his professional career. He is an experienced negotiator.
In recent years, he has developed a very keen interest in the issues of International Climate Policy (including Climate Finance) and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The conduct of Negotiations have been a central part of the work undertaken over the years. These included:
- Negotiating Loans, grants, technical assistance packages from the Multilateral Financial Institutions (2008-2013).
- Negotiating with the European Union, World Bank and other Multilateral Agencies for financial and technical assistance and support for the energy sector and for access to the green funds mechanisms established to assist countries seeking to adopt adaptation and mitigation measures in relation to climate change (2008-2013).
- Leading Grenada's negotiating team for the purpose of concluding an Energy Cooperation Agreement with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (2012).
- Led the Government of Grenada Negotiating Team to negotiate and conclude new Agreement between Government and St. George’s University covering the terms and conditions of the continued operations of the University in Grenada (2010).
The development of policy has featured significantly including, but not limited to:
- Establishing the Office of Private Sector Development- state agency dedicated to building and strengthening the partnership between the State and the Private sector to enhance capital expansion, economic growth and employment creation.
- Leading and Supervising the development of a Modern Tax Policy leading to the enactment of the Value Added Tax ( VAT) (2010)
- Leading and Supervising the development of a National Energy Policy and 10-year Energy Action Plan (2010)
- Leading and supervising the development of Grenada’s Investment Strategy and Policy leading to the enactment of new Investment Act (2011)
- Leading and supervising the preparation of the GREENADA VISION 2030, under which Grenada committed to convert Grenada to the 100% use of renewable energy for electricity generation and for transport by 2030. GREENADA VISION 2030 was launched at the Rio+20 Conference (March – April, 2012).
- Led and supervised the revision of a National Export Development Strategy (2008- 2009
Lex Fidelis Chambers, St. George’s, Grenada (2013-Present)
Partner : General Law Practice with emphasis on Corporate-Commercial Law and Commercial Litigation
Ciboney Chambers, St. George’s, Grenada (2001-2008)
Partner : General Law Practice with emphasis on Corporate-Commercial Law and Commercial Litigation.
Burke, Sealy-Burke, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (1992-2000)
Managing Partner : General Law Practice with emphasis on Corporate-Commercial Law, Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation, Estates Litigation and Criminal Law
Bodnaruk and Capone, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (1990-1992)
Associate : General Law Practice with emphasis on Corporate-Commercial Law, Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation, Estates Litigation and Criminal Law.
University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados (2014)
Senior Lecturer, Financial Services Law, Faculty of Law. Offered Course in Offshore Commercial Law
St. George’s University, Grenada (2002-2008)
- Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Public Health and Preventive
Medicine. Offered Courses in Health Economics ( Health Planning and
Financing) and International Public Health Law and Policy (2006-2008)
-Adjunct Sessional Lecturer, Department of Public Health and Preventive
Medicine. Offered Courses in Health Economics (Health Planning and
Financing) and International Public Health Law and Policy (2002-2006).
T.A. Marryshow Community College, St. George’s, Grenada (2002-2005)
Course Instructor. Offered Courses in Caribbean Law and Legal Systems, Criminal Law, Public Law, Tort Law, Contract Law and Real Property Law to students sitting the G.C.E. Advance Level and Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examinations (CAPE)
George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology, Ontario, Canada (1989- 1992)
Sessional Lecturer. Offered Course in Economics to students enrolled in Certified General Accounting (CGA) Program
- “The Globalization of Financial Markets”, in “The Law and Economic Development in the Third World”, P. Ebow Bondzi-Simpson (ed.) Praeger, New York, 1992 (Chapter 6).
- “The Potential Impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement on International Trade in Banking Services: A Canadian Perspective”, June 1994 (337 pp. Manuscript-Expanded version of LL.M. Thesis).
- “The Domestic Regulation of Banks and its impact on Trade in Banking Services”, January 1993 (Manuscript).
- Patterns of Economic Development in Small, Open, Underdeveloped Economies, May, 1985 (Manuscript-M.A. Thesis).
Political Leader, National Democratic Congress, Grenada (2014-2018)
Led the Main National Opposition Party into the 2018 General Elections, securing 41 percent of the popular vote.
Leader of Government Business in the House of Parliament (Lower House), Parliament of Grenada (2008-2013)
Piloted the Bills and led the Debates on the Government side in the consideration and passage of all Legislation in the Lower House of Parliament
Senator, Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate (Upper House), Parliament of Grenada (2013-2018)
Led the Debates of the Opposition in the consideration and passage of all Legislation in the Upper House of Parliament.
Elected Member of Parliament and Cabinet Member ( Minister) (2008-2013)
Acted as Prime Minister of Grenada on numerous occasions in the absence of the Prime Minister
Elected Member of Parliament ( 2003-2008)
Served as Shadow Minister of Finance on behalf of the (then) Official Opposition, National Democratic Congress (NDC); and Deputy Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament.
