AFTER?15 years of service as Governor General of Barbados, Sir Clifford Husbands demits office tomorrow.
The sudden announcement of his retirement came in an embargoed statement issued by the Cabinet Office yesterday for release today, which also said the “retired High Court Judge, the Hon. Elliot Belgrave, will act as Governor General from Tuesday, November 1, until further notice”.
Sir Clifford, 85, has served since 1996 as this country’s sixth representative of Her Majesty The Queen.
He is, however, only the second Governor General to retire from the post after Sir Hugh Springer in June 1990. The other four before him all died in office.
Well informed sources say Sir Clifford’s decision to step down comes on account of failing health. They also say he had indicated to Prime Minister Freundel Stuart on more than one occasion this year his intention, but had been asked by Stuart to hold on until now.
With his departure, speculation is now rife about who would be a suitable replacement. Several names have been thrown into the mix, including Austin Sealy of the International Olympic Committee; Jean Holder, the current chairman of LIAT; and former Deputy Prime Minister Sir Philip Greaves.
At the same time, the debate persists over the retention of the monarchial system of Government, with noted jurist Sir Feederick Smith telling THE?NATION in a recent interview that he believed the current system should die with the Queen.
However, just a few days ago Prime Minister Stuart joined with other Commonwealth leaders at their meeting in Perth, Australia, in unanimously agreeing to changes that will ensure that sons and daughters of future British monarchs have equal right to the throne – an indication that Barbados intends to stick to the monarchy, at least for now.
Sir Clifford, a product of the Parry School and Harrison College, has had a long and distinguished legal career. He studied law at the Middle Temple, Inns of Court, in Britain and qualified as a barrister in 1952.
After returning home, he practised law privately before being appointed to act as Deputy Registrar in 1954, later taking up several legal positions in the English-speaking Caribbean.
On his return to Barbados in 1960, he took up duties as assistant to the Attorney General and legal draughtsman. He was also appointed Director of Public Prosecutions in 1967 and elevated to a Queen’s Counsel in 1968.
He was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court in 1976, and promoted in 1991 to Justice of Appeal, completing his tenure in 1996. He also acted as Chief Justice and as Governor General prior to acceding to the latter position.
He 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 official act was to present the Queen’s Birthday Honours to six deserving Barbadians in September. (JS/KJ)
