View source for Governor-General of Barbados

{{Short description|Representative of the monarch of Barbados}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox official post
| status = Abolished
| post = Governor-General of Barbados
| flag = Flag of the Governor-General of Barbados.svg
| flagsize = 160px
| flagcaption = [[Flag of Barbados|Flag of the governor-general]]
| flagborder = yes
| insignia = Coat of arms of Barbados (3).svg
| insigniasize = 100px
| insigniacaption = [[Coat of arms of Barbados]]
| image = Sandra of Barbados.jpg
| imagecaption = '''Last in office<br />[[Sandra Mason]]'''<br />8 January 2018 – 30 November 2021
| style = [[Excellency|His/Her Excellency]]
| residence = [[State House, Barbados|Government House, Barbados]]
| appointer = [[Monarchy of Barbados|Monarch of Barbados]]
| termlength = [[At Her Majesty's pleasure]]
| formation = 30 November 1966
| abolished = 30 November 2021
| first = [[John Montague Stow]]
| last = [[Sandra Mason]]
| salary = 220,998 BBD annually<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.barbadosparliament.com/uploads/sittings/attachments/ab6b646f55108047d0050bf43cdf87d2.pdf|title=SCHEDULES OF PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS 2016 – 2017|author=Government Printing Department|website=barbadosparliament.com}}</ref>
}}
{{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 governor-general was appointed by the monarch 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 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.<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 had eight [[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. 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'''{{note label}}{{refbegin}}
:{{note|Died|†}} Died in office.
{{refend}}{{legend|#E6E6AA|Denotes acting governors-general}}
{| 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
!Left office
!Time in office
|-
| 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 Queen Elizabeth II (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
|-
|-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
|-
|-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
|-
|-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
| [[File:Insigne Barbatae.svg|70px]]
| [[Clifford Husbands]]<br /><small>(1926–2017)</small>
| <small>1 June</small><br />1996
| <small>31 October</small><br />2011
|15 years,
151 days
|-
|-style="background:#e6e6aa;"
| –
| [[File:Elliott Belgrave 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
|-
|-style="background:#e6e6aa;"
| –
| [[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 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
|-
|-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}}
|}

==Timeline==
<timeline>
ImageSize = width:600 height:auto barincrement:12
PlotArea  = top:10 bottom:80 right:130 left:20
AlignBars = late

Colors     =
  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

BarData=
  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 [[oath of office]] for the governor-general 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 [[Barbadian monarchy]] and the position of the governor-general, and the Queen of Barbados to 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=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 took office on 30 November 2021.

==See also==
*[[Government House, Barbados|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==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons 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}}

[[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]]
[[Category:2021 disestablishments in Barbados]]
[[Category:Barbados and the Commonwealth of Nations]]