Governor General 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, 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. The governor-general was appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister of Barbados. The governor-general exercised the monarch's executive powers and gave assent to bills in the monarch's name, promulgating them as laws. 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.

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.

Duties

The Barbadian monarch, on the advice of her Barbadian prime minister, appointed a governor-general to be her representative in Barbados. 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.

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", 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.

Timeline

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from: 30/11/1966 till: 18/05/1967 color:official text:"John Stow" fontsize:10
bar:Scott
from: 18/05/1967 till: 09/08/1976 color:official text:"Winston Scott" fontsize:10
bar:Douglas(acting)
from: 09/08/1976 till: 17/11/1976 color:acting text:" William Douglas" fontsize:10
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from: 17/11/1976 till: 09/01/1984 color:official text:" Deighton Ward" fontsize:10
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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
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from: 01/06/1996 till: 31/10/2011 color:official text:" Clifford Husbands" fontsize:10
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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

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
*List of current vice-regal representatives of Elizabeth II

References

External links

*

About Queen Elizabeth II and her role in Barbados
- ''Royal.uk''
*
Governor General of Barbados
Our Nation, Government of Barbados

{{Representatives of the monarch in Commonwealth realms and Dominions

Barbados, List of Governors-General of

Monarchy of Barbados
Governors-General
1966 establishments in Barbados
2021 disestablishments in Barbados
Barbados and the Commonwealth of Nations