Its now Sir Branford

Sir Branford and Lady Collen Taitt relaxing at home last night

Tue, November 30, 2010 - 12:17 AM

VETERAN POLITICIAN Senator Branford Mayhew Taitt is the lone recipient of Barbados’ top award, the Knight of St Andrew (KA), in the 2010 Independence Day Honours List announced yesterday by Governor General Sir Clifford Husbands.

Taitt, 72, will be styled “Sir Branford”, and heads a list of 20 awardees recognised on the 44th anniversary of Barbados’ Independence under the honours system instituted in July 1980.

“I am very humbled by the decision to honour me,” Sir Branford told the DAILY NATION last night, “and I appreciate the Prime Minister’s gesture.”

A member of the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) since the 1960s, Sir Branford first served in the Senate from October 1971, and was appointed Minister of Trade, and subsequently was elected to the House of Assembly five times.

He was appointed President of the Senate in 2008 following the DLP’s win in the January 15 general election.

There was no award in the category Companion of Honour of Barbados (ChB) which is the second highest national honour.

There were, however, eight awardees in the next category, Crown of Merit (gold and silver).

Former Commanding Officer of the Barbados Regiment, Colonel Leonard Cameron Banfield, LVO, was awarded the Gold Crown of Merit (GCM) for highly meritorious and distinguished military service; banker Gail Elma Delores Brathwaite, for highly meritorious service to the financial services sector and her unswerving commitment to philanthropic work with the Barbadian diaspora in the United States of America; businessman St Clair Leolan Harper, J.P., for highly meritorious service as a funeral director and his contribution to the local transport sector; and retired telephone executive Donald Hill, for highly meritorious service in the area of telecommunications development and his unswerving commitment to preserving the environment.

The Silver Crown of Merit (SCM) went to ace photographer William Eustace “Willie” Alleyne, BCH, for meritorious service to the development of still photography in Barbados and the Caribbean; teacher Ralph Anthony Jemmott, for meritorious service as an educator, in particular, his contribution as a historian; teacher Sylvester Earle Niles, J.P., for his meritorious contribution to education and the development of youth; and Yvonne Veronica Walkes, J.P., for meritorious work as a women’s advocate and a trade unionist.

The Barbados Service Star (BSS), for meritorious work in the civil, fire, military, police, prison or other protective services or any other similar field of endeavour, went to Edwin Ebenezer “Ebie” Gilkes, for his significant contribution to the development of the local entertainment industry, particularly the promotion of jazz music; sportsman Keith Hyvestia Griffith, for his unswerving service to the development of sports, especially football and road tennis; Captain Andrew Ricardo Headley, for his significant contribution to national security during the 2005 crisis at Her Majesty’s Prisons Glendairy; Michael Anthony Young, for his significant contribution to the development of the water sports industry; and Jean Mary Belling, for her immeasurable contribution as a secretary in the public service for three decades.

The Barbados Service Medal (BSM) was awarded to: Dilease Vitella Chandler, for her contribution to the development of the students at the Roebuck/Louis Lynch Secondary school; Maizie Harewood, for her dedication and commitment to nursing as a public health sister; Alvin Livingston McDonald Sobers, for his service to persons with disabilities; Marcella Cynthia Worrell, for her long-standing service to the National Conservation Commission, in particular her assignment at Ilaro Court; and Herbert Lawrence Walker, for his selfless contribution to the development of the members of the Royal Barbados Police Force’s Band for more than 25 years.

The sole winner of the Barbados Bravery Medal (BBM) was Fire Officer 246 Pernal Leeverne McClean, for his courageous act of saving the life of Charlotte Parris, whose vehicle careened into the Belle Gully during a flash flood on October 1, 2010.

(AB)

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Posted by yogi Ni 1 year, 5 months ago: I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WISH ALL BARBADIANS AT HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD A HAPPY AND BLESSED INDEPENDENCE DAY. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT WE AS A PEOPLE WILL USE THIS DAY TO REFLECT FROM WHENCE WE CAME, AND TO WHERE WE ARE HEADING AS A NATION. WE NEED TO DO SOME DEEP SOUL SEARCHING AS A PEOPLE. WE NEED TO BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES AND ADMIT THAT THE ISLAND IS HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, AND THAT A SERIOUS EFFORT MUST BE TAKEN TO CORRECT THE DIRECTION IN WHICH WE ARE HEADING. OUR POLITICAL LEADERS AND SENIOR CIVIL SERVANTS MUST ALSO COME TO THIS REALITY AND BE WILLING TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS TO PUT OUR NATION BACK ON TRACK. WE AS A NATION HAS NOW ENTER AN NEW ERA IN OUR HISTORY AS A NATION. THE NEW PRIME MINISTER OF BARBADOS NEED TO ACT AND LET HIS PEOPLE SEE THAT HE IS MADE OF STERNER STUFF, AND THAT HE IS FIT TO LEAD OUR NATION.
E EVER WE ARE IN THE WORLD RALLY AROUND OUR FLAG, AND PRAY THAT OUR NATION WILL CONTINUE TO PROSPER WITH THE HELP OF ALMIGHTY GOD.

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Posted by yogi Ni 1 year, 5 months ago: HIS GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO GIVE HIM THEIR FULL SUPPORT. THE OPPOSITION ALSO NEEDS TO PLAY A POSITIVE ROLE TO PUT OUR NATION BACK ON AN EVEN KEEL. LET US ALL AS BARBADIANS WHERE EVER WE ARE IN THE WORLD RALLY AROUND OUR FLAG, AND PRAY THAT OUR NATION WILL CONTINUE TO PROSPER WITH THE HELP OF ALMIGHTY GOD.

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Posted by yogi Ni 1 year, 5 months ago: Sir Brandford is well deserving of the Knighthood which he received in this year Independence honors. Sir Brandford has served our nation well for many years. His contributions to the development of our nation should never be forgotten or undermined by anyone. I want to take this opportunity to say congratulation to Sir Branford and all the other honorees for this year.

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Posted by Pan Wallie 1 year, 5 months ago: Congratulations to all the awardees. Happy Independence Barbados. May God continue to bless the fields and hills we call our very own.

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Posted by Pan Wallie 1 year, 5 months ago: I must have been age 16 when a group of us, secondary students/ranger guides were sent to the then Regiment to practice drill in preparation of Independence Day Parade. There we met Colonel Banfield, a brash, no nonsense man who treated us like soldiers. He was brash and unfeeling with use of the most sarcastic terms whenever we made mistakes. For us it was a joy to be there and such fun. That was until I made a left turn rather than a right, as instructed. I felt his humiliation until it drew tears, added to which was the ragging from my friends on our way home. I learnt what a sense duty and discipline meant that afternoon. That was an experience I have never forgoten, and thank him to this day. It really endeared me to him forever, and gave me a sense of joy whenever we met. Congratulations and may God bless you always Colonel Banfield.