TODAY is Governor General Sir Clifford Husbands’ last day in office. Sir Clifford, the country’s longest serving head of state, retires after spending 15 years in the post.
He is only the second Governor General to retire in office. Sir Hugh Springer retired in June 1990, after serving as Governor General from February 1984.
Eighty-five-year-old Sir Clifford is Barbados’ sixth head of state. He assumed the position on June 1, 1996, succeeding Dame Nita Barrow, who died in office on December 19, 1995.
In recognition of his long and outstanding legal and judicial service to Barbados from the early 1950s, Sir Clifford was awarded the Gold Crown Of Merit in 1986 and a Companion Of Honour in 1989. He received the highest national honour in 1995 when he was made a Knight of St Andrew.
His last major function was to present the Queen’s Birthday Honours to six deserving Barbadians last month.
Others who have held the office of Governor General include Sir John Stow (1966 to 1967), Sir Winston Scott (1967 to 1976), Sir Deighton Ward (1976 to 1984) and Dame Nita Barrow (1990 to 1995).
Above, in one of his last official acts, Governor General Sir Clifford Husbands conferred the title of Knight Bachelor on Professor Emeritus Woodville Marshall last September. (YB)
