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.
The office was established by Chapter IV of the 1966 Constitution of Barbados.Constitution, Chapter IV The governor-general was appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister of Barbados.Constitution, Chapter IV, Section 28(1)Constitution, Chapter IV, Section 32 The governor-general exercised the monarch's executive powers and gave assent to bills in the monarch's name, promulgating them as laws.Constitution, Chapter V, Section 58(1) 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.Constitution, Chapter IV, Section 32
The office of the governor-general was established when Barbados gained independence in 1966. Since then, Barbados had eight governors-general. On 30 November 2021, Barbados became a republic and the office of governor-general was abolished.
Duties The Barbadian monarch, on the advice of her Barbadian prime minister, appointed a governor-general to be her representative in Barbados.Constitution, Chapter VI, Part 1; Section 28 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.Constitution, Chapter III, Part 15; Section 25(1)(a)
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, granting "any person convicted of any offence against the laws of Barbados a pardon",Constitution, Chapter VI, Part 2; Section 78(1)(a) 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 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.
Portrait Name(Birth–Death) Term of office Monarch(Reign)Took officeLeft officeTime in office 1 John Montague Stow(1911–1997) 30 November1966 18 May1967169 days Elizabeth II(1966–2021) 2 Arleigh Winston Scott(1900–1976) 18 May1967 9 August19769 years, 82 days – William Randolph Douglas(1921–2003) 9 August1976 17 November1976100 days 3 Deighton Lisle Ward(1909–1984) 17 November1976 9 January19847 years, 53 days – William Randolph Douglas(1921–2003) 10 January1984 24 February198445 days 4 Hugh Springer(1913–1994) 24 February1984 6 June19906 years, 104 days 5 Nita Barrow(1916–1995) 6 June1990 19 December19955 years, 195 days – Denys Williams(1929–2014) 19 December1995 1 June1996165 days 6 Clifford Husbands(1926–2017) 1 June1996 31 October201115 years, 151 days – Elliott Belgrave(b. 1931) 1 November2011 30 May2012211 days – Sandra Mason(b. 1949) 30 May2012 1 June20122 days 7 Elliott Belgrave(b. 1931) 1 June2012 30 June20175 years, 29 days – Philip Greaves(b. 1931) 1 July2017 8 January2018191 days 8 Sandra Mason(b. 1949) 8 January2018 30 November2021
Timeline
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:
Abolition
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. Incumbent governor-general Sandra Mason was elected president on 20 October 2021 and took office on 30 November 2021.
See also Government House, the official residence of the governor-general Order of Barbados List of governors of Barbados Governor-General of the West Indies Federation List of prime ministers of Barbados
References
External links
About Queen Elizabeth II and her role in Barbados - Royal.uk Governor General of Barbados, Our Nation, Government of Barbados