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Governor-General of Barbados

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Governor-General of Barbados
Coat of arms of Barbados (3).svg
Coat of arms of Barbados
Flag of the Governor-General of Barbados.svg
Flag of the Governor-General
StyleHis/Her Excellency
StatusAbolished
ResidenceGovernment House, Barbados
AppointerMonarch of Barbados
Term lengthAt Her Majesty's pleasure
Formation30 November 1966
First holderJohn Montague Stow
Final holderSandra Mason
Abolished30 November 2021
Salary220,998 BBD annually[1]
Politics of Barbados
Coat of arms of Barbados (3).svg
Constitution
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
Elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations
Historical

The governor-general of Barbados was the representative of the Barbadian monarch from independence in 1966 until the establishment of a republic in 2021. Under the government's Table of Precedence for Barbados, the governor-general of Barbados was regarded as being the most important of all personnel of the Barbados government.[2]

The office was established by Chapter IV of the 1966 Constitution of Barbados.[3] The governor-general was appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister of Barbados.[4][5] The governor-general exercised the monarch's executive powers and gave assent to bills in the monarch's name, promulgating them as laws.[6] The powers of the monarch and the governor-general were limited, and they, in most instances, exercised authority on the advice of the prime minister or other persons or bodies within Barbados.[7]

The office of the governor-general was established when Barbados gained independence in 1966. Since then, Barbados had 8 governors-general. On 30 November 2021, Barbados became a republic and the office of governor-general was abolished.

Discover more about Governor-General of Barbados related topics

Barbados

Barbados

Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. It occupies an area of 432 km2 (167 sq mi) and has a population of about 287,000. Its capital and largest city is Bridgetown.

Table of precedence for Barbados

Table of precedence for Barbados

The following is the Barbadian Table of Precedence.The President of Barbados The Prime Minister The Chief Justice The Members of the Cabinet The Attorney-General, as the first minister to be sworn-in after the Prime Minister. Other cabinet ministers, their own order unknown. The former Governors-General The National Heroes The President of the Senate The Speaker of the House of Assembly The Leader of the Opposition The former Prime Ministers, and the former Chief Justices The Members of the President's Privy Council The Chairman of the Barbados Christian Council The Ambassadors and High Commissioners The Justices of the Court of Appeals, and the Judges of the High Court The Parliamentary Secretaries The Deputy President of the Senate The Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly The Members of the Senate The Members of the House of Assembly The spouses of deceased dignitaries such as: Governors-General, Prime Ministers, and National Heroes The Chairmen of the Commissions established under the Constitution The Head of the Civil Service The Ombudsman, Director of Public Prosecutions, and Auditor General The Director of Finance and Economic Affairs, the Solicitor General, the Chief Parliamentary Counsel, the Permanent Secretaries, and the Governor of the Central Bank The Ambassadors/High Commission (Overseas) The Chief of Staff for the Barbados Defence Force, and the Commissioner of Police The Chancellor, University of the West Indies; The Chairman; The Cave Hill Campus Council, University of the West Indies; The Principal, Cave Hill Campus; and the Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies. The former Ministers The Members of The Order of the Caribbean Community, and the Holders of Knighthoods The holders of the Companion of Honour of Barbados The holders of the Companions of the Order of St. Michael and St. George The Heads of the regional bodies with diplomatic status. The Related grades, and the Clerk of Parliament The Chargé d'affaires and Acting High Commissioners, Deputy High Commissioners, Counsellors in Embassies, High Commissions and Legations, Consul-General - Chefs de Poste The Consuls - Chefs de Posts The Members of the Commissions established under the Constitution The Chairmen of Statutory Boards The Heads of Government Departments, including the Chief Technical Officers of departments integrated in Ministries, The Chief Magistrate, and the Chief Executive Officers of Statutory Boards Honorary Consuls, Vice-Consuls in Embassies, and High Commissions and Legations

Government of Barbados

Government of Barbados

The Government of Barbados (GoB), is a unitary parliamentary republic, where the President of Barbados represents as the head of state and the Prime Minister of Barbados represents as the head of government.

Constitution of Barbados

Constitution of Barbados

The Constitution of Barbados is the supreme law under which Barbados is governed. The Constitution provides a legal establishment of the Government of Barbados, as well as legal rights and responsibilities of the public and various other government officers. The Constitution which came into force in 1966 was amended in 1974, 1978, 1990, 1992, 1995, 2002, 2003, and 2021. The 1966 document succeeds several other documents concerning administration of Barbados. One of them, the Barbados Charter, is discussed in the present Constitution's Preamble. Prior statutes were created for the administration of Barbados as a colony. As a former English and later British colony, the Constitution is similar to those of other former Commonwealth realms, yet distinctly different in the spirit of the Statute of Westminster.

Prime Minister of Barbados

Prime Minister of Barbados

The prime minister of Barbados is the head of government of Barbados. The prime minister is appointed by the president under the terms of the Constitution. As the nominal holder of executive authority, the president holds responsibility for conducting parliamentary elections and for proclaiming one of the candidates as prime minister.

Executive (government)

Executive (government)

The executive, also referred as the executive branch or executive power, is the term commonly used to describe that part of government which enforces the law, and has overall responsibility for the governance of a state.

Promulgation

Promulgation

Promulgation is the formal proclamation or the declaration that a new statutory or administrative law is enacted after its final approval. In some jurisdictions, this additional step is necessary before the law can take effect.

Barbados Independence Act 1966

Barbados Independence Act 1966

The Barbados Independence Act 1966 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that granted independence to Barbados with effect from 30 November 1966. The Act also provided for the granting of a new constitution to take effect upon independence, which was done by the Barbados Independence Order 1966.

Republicanism in Barbados

Republicanism in Barbados

On 30 November 2021, Barbados transitioned from a parliamentary constitutional monarchy under the hereditary monarch of Barbados to a parliamentary republic with a ceremonial indirectly elected president as head of state. The prime minister remained head of government while the last governor-general, Dame Sandra Mason, was elected as the country's first president on 20 October 2021, and took office on 30 November 2021.

Duties

The Barbadian monarch, on the advice of her Barbadian prime minister, appointed a governor-general to be her representative in Barbados.[8][9] Both the monarch and the governor-general held much power in the country, though it was rarely used unilaterally; it was usually only used in such a way in emergencies and in some cases war.[10]

The governor-general represented the monarch on ceremonial occasions such as the State Opening of Parliament and the presentation of honours and military parades. Under the constitution, the governor-general was given authority to act in some matters; for example, in appointing and disciplining officers of the civil service,[11] granting "any person convicted of any offence against the laws of Barbados a pardon",[12] and in proroguing parliament. However, in only a few cases was the governor-general empowered to act entirely on his/her own discretion, often requiring the countersignature of the prime minister to exercise their powers.

The governor-general of Barbados also chaired the Privy Council of Barbados.

List of governors-general of Barbados

Following is a list of people who served as governor-general of Barbados from independence in 1966 to the establishment of a republic in 2021.

Symbols

^† Died in office.
  Denotes acting governors-general
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term of office Monarch
(Reign)
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Insigne Barbatae.svg John Montague Stow
(1911–1997) 		30 November
1966 		18 May
1967 		169 days Her Majesty The Queen (1959).jpg
Elizabeth II
Coat of arms of Barbados (3).svg
(1966–2021)
2 Insigne Barbatae.svg Arleigh Winston Scott
(1900–1976) 		18 May
1967 		9 August
1976[†] 		9 years,

82 days

– Insigne Barbatae.svg William Douglas
(1921–2003)
Acting Governor-General 		9 August
1976 		17 November
1976 		100 days
3 Insigne Barbatae.svg Deighton Lisle Ward
(1909–1984) 		17 November
1976 		9 January
1984[†] 		7 years,

53 days

– Insigne Barbatae.svg William Randolph Douglas
(1921–2003)
Acting Governor-General 		10 January
1984 		24 February
1984 		45 days
4 Insigne Barbatae.svg Hugh Springer
(1913–1994) 		24 February
1984 		6 June
1990 		6 years,

104 days

5 Insigne Barbatae.svg Nita Barrow
(1916–1995) 		6 June
1990 		19 December
1995[†] 		5 years,

195 days

– Insigne Barbatae.svg Denys Williams
(1929–2014)
Acting Governor-General 		19 December
1995 		1 June
1996 		165 days
6 Insigne Barbatae.svg Clifford Husbands
(1926–2017) 		1 June
1996 		31 October
2011 		15 years,

151 days

– Elliott Belgrave 2016.jpg Elliott Belgrave
(b. 1931)
Acting Governor-General 		1 November
2011 		30 May
2012 		211 days
– Sandra Mason at Remembrance Day Parade and Service 20191110.jpg Sandra Mason
(b. 1949)
Acting Governor-General 		30 May
2012 		1 June
2012 		2 days
7 Elliott Belgrave 2016.jpg Elliott Belgrave
(b. 1931) 		1 June
2012 		30 June
2017 		5 years,

29 days

– Insigne Barbatae.svg Philip Greaves
(b. 1931)
Acting Governor-General 		1 July
2017 		8 January
2018 		191 days
8 Sandra Mason at Remembrance Day Parade and Service 20191110.jpg Sandra Mason
(b. 1949) 		8 January
2018 		30 November
2021 		3 years, 326 days

Discover more about List of governors-general of Barbados related topics

John Montague Stow

John Montague Stow

Sir John Montague Stow was a British colonial official who served in various roles.

Elizabeth II

Elizabeth II

Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during her lifetime and was head of state of 15 realms at the time of her death. Her reign of 70 years and 214 days was the longest of any British monarch and the longest verified reign of any female monarch in history.

Arleigh Winston Scott

Arleigh Winston Scott

Sir Arleigh Winston Scott was the second governor-general of Barbados between 18 May 1967 and 9 August 1976.

Deighton Lisle Ward

Deighton Lisle Ward

Sir Deighton Harcourt Lisle Ward graduated from Harrison College in Bridgetown. He served as third governor-general of Barbados from 1976 to 1984

William Randolph Douglas

William Randolph Douglas

Sir William Randolph Douglas, was a Chief Justice of Barbados (1965–1986). He served as acting governor-general twice: from 9 August 1976 until 17 November 1976 and from 10 January 1984 until 24 February 1984. Between 1987 and 1991, Douglas served as ambassador to the United States.

Hugh Springer

Hugh Springer

Sir Hugh Worrell Springer was the organiser and first general secretary of the Barbados Workers' Union, and Barbados' fourth governor-general. He was a lawyer, politician and public servant. By an act of Parliament in 1998, Springer was named as one of the eleven National Heroes of Barbados.

Nita Barrow

Nita Barrow

Dame Ruth Nita Barrow, GCMG DA was the first female governor-general of Barbados. Barrow was a nurse and a public health servant from Barbados. She served as the fifth governor-general of Barbados from 6 June 1990 until her death on 19 December 1995. She was the older sister of Errol Barrow, the first prime minister of Barbados.

Denys Williams

Denys Williams

Sir Denys Ambrose Williams, KCMG, GCM was a Chief Justice of Barbados. He served as acting Governor-General of Barbados from 19 December 1995 until 1 June 1996.

Clifford Husbands

Clifford Husbands

Sir Clifford Straughn Husbands GCMG KStJ KA QC was a Barbadian judge who served as the sixth Governor-General of Barbados. He held this office from 1996, when he was appointed after the death of Nita Barrow, until he retired on 31 October 2011.

Elliott Belgrave

Elliott Belgrave

Sir Elliott Fitzroy Belgrave, GCMG, KA, CHB, KStJ, SC is a retired Barbadian High Court Judge who served as the seventh governor-general of Barbados from 1 June 2012 to 30 June 2017. He previously served as Acting Governor-General from 1 November 2011 to 1 June 2012. On 22 May 2012, the prime minister of Barbados announced that Belgrave would be appointed as the 7th Barbadian Governor-General of Queen Elizabeth II. In preparation, Justice Sandra Mason was appointed as acting Governor-General on 30 May 2012 pending Belgrave's preparation for his own oath-taking ceremony on 1 June.

Sandra Mason

Sandra Mason

Dame Sandra Prunella Mason is a Barbadian politician, lawyer, and diplomat who is serving as the first president of Barbados since 2021. She was previously the eighth and final governor-general of Barbados from 2018 to 2021, the second woman to hold the office. On 20 October 2021, Mason was elected by the Parliament of Barbados to become the country's first president, and took office on 30 November 2021, when Barbados ceased to be a constitutional monarchy and became a republic.

Philip Greaves

Philip Greaves

Sir Philip Greaves, KA is a Barbadian retired politician who served as the 5th deputy prime minister of Barbados from 1 June 1987 until 6 September 1994 under Lloyd Erskine Sandiford. He later served as acting governor-general of Barbados from 1 July 2017 until 8 January 2018.

Timeline

Sandra MasonPhilip GreavesElliot BelgraveSandra MasonElliot BelgraveClifford HusbandsDenys WilliamsNita BarrowHugh SpringerWilliam DouglasDeighton Lisle WardWilliam DouglasArleigh Winston ScottJohn Montague Stow

Official oath of office

According to the First Schedule section of the 1966 Constitution of Barbados, the official oath of office for the governor-general of Barbados was as follows:

I, (name), do swear that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Her Heirs and Successors, in the office of Governor-General. So help me God.

Abolition

Main article: Republicanism in Barbados

In September 2020, the government of Barbados announced that it planned to abolish the Barbadian monarchy and the position of the governor-general, and the Queen of Barbados to be replaced with a ceremonial president, akin to that of the president of Trinidad and Tobago.[13] Incumbent governor-general Sandra Mason was elected president on 20 October 2021 and took office on 30 November 2021.

Discover more about Abolition related topics

Republicanism in Barbados

Republicanism in Barbados

On 30 November 2021, Barbados transitioned from a parliamentary constitutional monarchy under the hereditary monarch of Barbados to a parliamentary republic with a ceremonial indirectly elected president as head of state. The prime minister remained head of government while the last governor-general, Dame Sandra Mason, was elected as the country's first president on 20 October 2021, and took office on 30 November 2021.

President of Barbados

President of Barbados

The president of Barbados is the head of state of Barbados and the commander-in-chief of the Barbados Defence Force. The office was established when the country became a parliamentary republic on 30 November 2021. Before, the head of state was Elizabeth II, Queen of Barbados, who was represented on the island by a governor-general. The first and current president is Sandra Mason, who previously served as the last governor-general.

President of Trinidad and Tobago

President of Trinidad and Tobago

The President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is the head of state of Trinidad and Tobago and the commander-in-chief of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. The office was established when the country became a republic in 1976, before which the head of state was the queen of Trinidad and Tobago. The last governor-general, Sir Ellis Clarke, was sworn in as the first president on 1 August 1976 under a transitional arrangement. He was formally chosen as president by an electoral college consisting of members of both houses of Parliament on 24 September 1976, which is now celebrated as Republic Day.

Sandra Mason

Sandra Mason

Dame Sandra Prunella Mason is a Barbadian politician, lawyer, and diplomat who is serving as the first president of Barbados since 2021. She was previously the eighth and final governor-general of Barbados from 2018 to 2021, the second woman to hold the office. On 20 October 2021, Mason was elected by the Parliament of Barbados to become the country's first president, and took office on 30 November 2021, when Barbados ceased to be a constitutional monarchy and became a republic.

Source: "Governor-General of Barbados", Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, (2023, March 26th), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor-General_of_Barbados.

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Further Reading

Government of Barbados

Constitutional monarchy

Governor-General of Australia

Governor-General of Ceylon

Monarchy of Australia

Monarchy of Jamaica

Monarchy of Barbados

Monarchy of the Bahamas

Monarchy of Grenada

Monarchy of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Monarchy of Tuvalu

Constitution of Barbados

Queen of Trinidad and Tobago

Governor-General of Tuvalu

List of heads of state of Barbados

President of Barbados
See also
References
  1. ^ Government Printing Department. "SCHEDULES OF PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS 2016 – 2017" (PDF). barbadosparliament.com.
  2. ^ "Table of Precedence for Barbados - July, 2008" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2009.
  3. ^ Constitution, Chapter IV
  4. ^ Constitution, Chapter IV, Section 28(1)
  5. ^ Constitution, Chapter IV, Section 32
  6. ^ Constitution, Chapter V, Section 58(1)
  7. ^ Constitution, Chapter IV, Section 32
  8. ^ "Queen's role in Barbados". The Monarchy Today: Queen and State. The Barbadian Monarchy. Retrieved 2 June 2010.
  9. ^ Constitution, Chapter VI, Part 1; Section 28
  10. ^ Constitution, Chapter III, Part 15; Section 25(1)(a)
  11. ^ The role of GG is not just ceremonial, says Arthur
  12. ^ Constitution, Chapter VI, Part 2; Section 78(1)(a)
  13. ^ Madden, Marlon, ed. (17 September 2020). "Wickham predicts Barbados' republic model to mirror Trinidad's". Top Featured Article. Barbados Today. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2021. As Barbados prepares to ditch the Queen as its Head of State and become a republic, a prominent political scientist is predicting that Prime Minister Mia Mottley will follow the Trinidad and Tobago model. What's more, Peter Wickham has shot down any idea of the Barbados Labour Party administration holding a referendum on the matter, saying that to do so would be a "mistake". "There is no need to and I don't think it makes a lot of sense. We had a situation where since 1999 this [political party] indicated its desire to go in the direction of a republic. The Opposition has always supported it.... So, I think there is enough cohesion in that regard to go with it," he said.
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