Governor-General of Barbados: Difference between revisions

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|flag = Flag of the Governor-General of Barbados.svg
|flagsize = 160px
|flagcaption = [[Flag of Barbados|Flag of the Governorgovernor-Generalgeneral]]
|flagborder = yes
|insignia = Coat of arms of Barbados (3).svg
|insigniasize = 100px
|insigniacaption = [[Coat of arms of Barbados]]
|image =
|imagecaption =
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|residence = [[State House, Barbados|Government House, Barbados]]
|appointer = [[Monarchy of Barbados|Monarch of Barbados]]
|termlength = [[At {{ucfirst:{{Canadian monarch, current|genderp=~}}}}Her Majesty's pleasure]]
|formation = 30 November 1966
|abolished = 30 November 2021
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{{Politics of Barbados}}
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|Table of Precedence for Barbados]], the governor-general of [[Barbados]] was regarded as being the most important of all personnel of the [[Government of Barbados|Barbados government]].<ref>[{{Cite web |url=http://www.foreign.gov.bb/UserFiles/File/Precedence.pdf |title=Table of Precedence for Barbados - July, 2008] |access-date=25 January 2009 |archive-date=6 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706132254/http://www.foreign.gov.bb/UserFiles/File/Precedence.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
The office was established by Chapter IV of the 1966 [[Constitution of Barbados]].<ref>[[#refConstitution|Constitution]], Chapter IV</ref> The Governorgovernor-Generalgeneral was appointed by the Queenmonarch on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of Barbados|prime minister of Barbados]].<ref>[[#refConstitution|Constitution]], Chapter IV, Section 28(1)</ref><ref>[[#refConstitution|Constitution]], Chapter IV, Section 32</ref> The governor-general exercised the monarch's [[Executive (government)|executive power]]s and gave [[Royal Assent|assent]] to [[Bill (proposed law)|bills]] in the monarch's name, [[promulgation|promulgating]] them as laws.<ref>[[#refConstitution|Constitution]], Chapter V, Section 58(1)</ref> The Barbadospowers constitution limitedof the powersmonarch ofand the governor-general (known as a [[constitutional monarchy]] system of governance).<ref>[[#refConstitution|Constitution]], Chapter IV, Section 32</ref> This effectivelywere limited the powers of the Queen, asand it did the governor-general, whothey, in most instances, exercised authority on the advice of the prime minister or other persons or bodies within Barbados, much like the [[president of Barbados]] at present.<ref>[[#refConstitution|Constitution]], Chapter IV, Section 32</ref>
 
The office of the governor-general was established when Barbados [[Barbados Independence Act 1966|gained independence]] in 1966. Since then, Barbados has had 8 [[Governor-General#Modern Commonwealth|governors-general]]. On 30 November 2021, [[Republicanism in Barbados|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.<ref>{{cite web | title = Queen's role in Barbados | work = The Monarchy Today: Queen and State| publisher = [[Monarchy of Barbados|The Barbadian Monarchy]] | url = http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchAndCommonwealth/TheQueenandBarbados/TheQueensroleinBarbados.aspx | access-date = 2 June 2010 }}</ref><ref>[[#refConstitution|Constitution]], Chapter VI, Part 1; Section 28</ref> 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.<ref>[[#refConstitution|Constitution]], Chapter III, Part 15; Section 25(1)(a)</ref>
 
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,<ref>[https://www.barbadostoday.bb/2017/11/21/the-role-of-gg-is-not-just-ceremonial-says-arthur/ The role of GG is not just ceremonial, says Arthur]</ref> granting "any person convicted of any offence against the laws of Barbados a pardon",<ref>[[#refConstitution|Constitution]], Chapter VI, Part 2; Section 78(1)(a)</ref> and in proroguing parliament. ButHowever, in only a few cases was the Governorgovernor-Generalgeneral 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 Governorsgovernors-Generalgeneral of Barbados==
OnFollowing 30is Novembera 1966,list of people who served as governor-general of Barbados gainedfrom independence fromin 1966 to the Unitedestablishment of a republic in Kingdom2021.
 
'''Symbols'''{{note label}}{{refbegin}}
:{{note|Died|†}} Died in office.
{{refend}}{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes Actingacting Governorsgovernors-Generalgeneral}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" | {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
! rowspan="2" | Portrait
! rowspan="2" | Name<br /><small>(Birth–Death)</small>
! colspan="3" | Term of office
! rowspan="2" | Monarch<br /><small>(Reign)</small>
|-
!Took office
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|-
| 1
| [[File:Insigne Barbatae.svg|70px]]
|
| [[John Montague Stow]]<br /><small>(1911–1997)</small>
| <small>30 November</small><br />1966
| <small>18 May</small><br />1967
|169 days
| rowspan="14" style="background:#eaecf0" | [[File:Her Majesty The Queen (1959).jpg|70px]]<br />'''[[Elizabeth II]]'''<br />[[File:Coat of arms of Barbados (3).svg|60px]]<br /><small>(1966–2021)</small>
|-
| 2
| [[File:Insigne Barbatae.svg|70px]]
|
| [[Arleigh Winston Scott]]<br /><small>(1900–1976)</small>
| <small>18 May</small><br />1967
| <small>9 August</small><br />1976{{ref label|Died|†}}
|9 years,
82 days
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|-style="background:#e6e6aa;"
| –
| [[File:Insigne Barbatae.svg|70px]]
|
| [[William Douglas (Barbados)|William Douglas]]<br /><small>(1921–2003)</small><br />{{small|Acting Governor-General}}
| <small>9 August</small><br />1976
| <small>17 November</small><br />1976
|100 days
|-
| 3
| [[File:Insigne Barbatae.svg|70px]]
|
| [[Deighton Lisle Ward]]<br /><small>(1909–1984)</small>
| <small>17 November</small><br />1976
| <small>9 January</small><br />1984{{ref label|Died|†}}
|7 years,
53 days
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|-style="background:#e6e6aa;"
| –
| [[File:Insigne Barbatae.svg|70px]]
|
| [[William Randolph Douglas]]<br /><small>(1921–2003)</small><br />{{small|Acting Governor-General}}
| <small>10 January</small><br />1984
| <small>24 February</small><br />1984
|45 days
|-
| 4
| [[File:Insigne Barbatae.svg|70px]]
|
| [[Hugh Springer]]<br /><small>(1913–1994)</small>
| <small>24 February</small><br />1984
| <small>6 June</small><br />1990
|6 years,
104 days
|-
| 5
| [[File:Insigne Barbatae.svg|70px]]
|
| [[Nita Barrow]]<br /><small>(1916–1995)</small>
| <small>6 June</small><br />1990
| <small>19 December</small><br />1995{{ref label|Died|†}}
|5 years,
195 days
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|-style="background:#e6e6aa;"
| –
| [[File:Insigne Barbatae.svg|70px]]
|
| [[Denys Williams]]<br /><small>(1929–2014)</small><br />{{small|Acting Governor-General}}
| <small>19 December</small><br />1995
| <small>1 June</small><br />1996
|165 days
|-
| 6
|
| [[Clifford Husbands]]<br /><small>(1926–2017)</small>
| <small>1 June</small><br />1996
| <small>31 October</small><br />2011
|15 years,
151 days
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|-style="background:#e6e6aa;"
| –
| [[File:Elliott Belgrave (cropped)2016.jpg|70px]]
| [[Elliott Belgrave]]<br /><small>(b. 1931)</small><br />{{small|Acting Governor-General}}
| <small>1 November</small><br />2011
| <small>30 May</small><br />2012
|211 days
|-
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| –
| [[File:Sandra Mason at Remembrance Day Parade and Service 20191110.jpg|70px]]
| [[Sandra Mason]]<br /><small>(b. 1949)</small><br />{{small|Acting Governor-General}}
| <small>30 May</small><br />2012
| <small>1 June</small><br />2012
|2 days
|-
| 7
| [[File:Elliott Belgrave (cropped)2016.jpg|70px]]
| [[Elliott Belgrave]]<br /><small>(b. 1931)</small>
| <small>1 June</small><br />2012
| <small>30 June</small><br />2017
|5 years,
29 days
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|-style="background:#e6e6aa;"
| –
| [[File:Insigne Barbatae.svg|70px]]
|
| [[Philip Greaves]]<br /><small>(b. 1931)</small><br />{{small|Acting Governor-General}}
| <small>1 July</small><br />2017
| <small>8 January</small><br />2018
|191 days
|-
| 8
| [[File:Sandra Mason at Remembrance Day Parade and Service 20191110.jpg|70px]]
| [[Sandra Mason]]<br /><small>(b. 1949)</small>
| <small>8 January</small><br />2018
| <small>30 November</small><br />2021
|{{Age in years and days|2018|1|8|2021|11|30}}
|-
| colspan=7|Post abolished 30 November 2021
|}
 
==Timeline==
For a list of heads of state after the establishment of the Republic, see [[List of heads of state of Barbados]].
<timeline>
ImageSize = width:600 height:auto barincrement:12
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id:official value:gray(0.65) legend: Official
id:acting value:dullyellow legend: Acting
id:gray1 value:gray(0.85)
id:gray2 value:gray(0.95)
 
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1966 till:01/01/2022
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:gray1 unit:year increment:5 start:1966
ScaleMinor = gridcolor:gray2 unit:year increment:1 start:1966
 
Legend = columns:1 left:205 top:35 columnwidth:75
 
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bar:Stow
bar:Scott
bar:Douglas(acting)
bar:Ward
bar:Douglas(acting)2
bar:Springer
bar:Barrow
bar:Williams
bar:Husbands
bar:Belgrave(acting)
bar:Mason(acting)
bar:Belgrave
bar:Greaves(acting)
bar:Mason
 
PlotData=
width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
 
bar:Stow
from: 30/11/1966 till: 18/05/1967 color:official text:"[[John Montague Stow|John Stow]]" fontsize:10
bar:Scott
from: 18/05/1967 till: 09/08/1976 color:official text:"[[Arleigh Winston Scott|Winston Scott]]" fontsize:10
bar:Douglas(acting)
from: 09/08/1976 till: 17/11/1976 color:acting text:"[[William Douglas]]" fontsize:10
bar:Ward
from: 17/11/1976 till: 09/01/1984 color:official text:"[[Deighton Lisle Ward|Deighton Ward]]" fontsize:10
bar:Douglas(acting)2
from: 10/01/1984 till: 24/02/1984 color:acting text:"[[William Douglas]]" fontsize:10
bar:Springer
from: 24/02/1984 till: 06/06/1990 color:official text:"[[Hugh Springer]]" fontsize:10
bar:Barrow
from: 06/06/1990 till: 19/12/1995 color:official text:"[[Nita Barrow]]" fontsize:10
bar:Williams
from: 19/12/1995 till: 01/06/1996 color:acting text:"[[Denys Williams]]" fontsize:10
bar:Husbands
from: 01/06/1996 till: 31/10/2011 color:official text:"[[Clifford Husbands]]" fontsize:10
bar:Belgrave(acting)
from: 01/11/2011 till: 30/05/2012 color:acting text:"[[Elliot Belgrave]]" fontsize:10
bar:Mason(acting)
from: 30/05/2012 till: 01/06/2012 color:acting text:"[[Sandra Mason]]" fontsize:10
bar:Belgrave
from: 01/06/2012 till: 30/06/2017 color:official text:"[[Elliot Belgrave]]" fontsize:10
bar:Greaves(acting)
from: 01/07/2017 till: 08/01/2018 color:acting text:"[[Philip Greaves]]" fontsize:10
bar:Mason
from: 08/01/2018 till: 30/11/2021 color:official text:"[[Sandra Mason]]" fontsize:10
 
 
</timeline>
 
== Official oath of office ==
According to the First Schedule section of the 1966 [[Constitution of Barbados]], the official [[Oathoath of office]] for the Governorgovernor-Generalgeneral of Barbados was as follows:
{{cquote|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|Republicanism in Barbados}}
In September 2020, the government of Barbados announced that it planned to abolish the [[monarchyBarbadian of Barbadosmonarchy]] and the position of the governor-general's position, and the Queen of Barbados wasto be replaced with a ceremonial [[President of Barbados|president]], akin to that of the [[president of Trinidad and Tobago]].<ref>{{cite news |date=17 September 2020 |title=Wickham predicts Barbados' republic model to mirror Trinidad's |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20200920163841/https://barbadostoday.bb/2020/09/17/wickham-predicts-barbados-republic-model-to-mirror-trinidads/ |editor1-last=Madden |editor1-first=Marlon |department=Top Featured Article |publisher=Barbados Today |publication-date=17 September 2020 |access-date=4 June 2021 |quote=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. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920163841/https://barbadostoday.bb/2020/09/17/wickham-predicts-barbados-republic-model-to-mirror-trinidads/ |archive-date=20 September 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Incumbent governor-general [[Sandra Mason]] was elected president on 20 October 2021 and wastook inaugurated as presidentoffice on 30 November 2021.
 
==See also==
*[[Government House, Barbados|Government House]], the official residence of the Governorgovernor-Generalgeneral
*[[Order of Barbados]]
*[[List of governors of Barbados]]
*[[Governor-General of the West Indies Federation]]
*[[List of prime ministers of Barbados]]
*[[List of current vice-regal representatives of Elizabeth II]]
 
==References==
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== External links ==
* {{CommonscatinlineCommons category-inline}}
* [https://www.royal.uk/barbados About Queen Elizabeth II and her role in Barbados] - ''Royal.uk''
** [https://www.gov.bb/Visit-Barbados/governor-general Governor General of Barbados], Our Nation, Government of Barbados
 
{{Governors-General of Barbados|state=collapsed}}
{{Barbados topics}}
{{Representatives of the monarch in Commonwealth realms and Dominions}}
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[[Category:Lists of governors-general|Barbados, List of Governors-General of]]
[[Category:Governors-General of Barbados| ]]
[[Category:Monarchy of Barbados]]
[[Category:Lists of political office-holders in Barbados|Governors-General]]
[[Category:1966 establishments in Barbados]]