AN OFFICIAL in the Cabinet Office has pointed out that members of the public need to know the correct way of addressing public officials.

This comes in the wake of what has been described as unintentional errors being made, from time to time, in addressing correspondence to dignitaries or greeting or acknowledging their presence at official functions.

The official explained that the Governor-General should be addressed as His Excellency, Sir Clifford Husbands; and the Prime Minister, the Honourable David Thompson. Members of the Cabinet, as well as members of the local Privy Council, judges and holders of the Companion of Honour of Barbados (CHB) are greeted as The Honourable.

Former Prime Ministers Sir Lloyd Sandiford and Owen Arthur who are members of the Her Majesty's Privy Council are addressed as the Right Honourable.

Accredited ambassadors and high commissioners are saluted as His/Her Excellency.

Where certain officials have other professional appellations, the correct order should obtain. For example, Senator, the Honourable Professor Velma Newton or Dr the Honourable David Estwick, MP, Minister of Health.

The Leader of the Opposition, the Honourable Mia Mottley, QC, is honourable by virtue of her being a member of the local Privy Council.

The official also pointed out the following: Senator, the Honourable Maxine McClean is Minister in the Prime Minister's Office; the Honourable Patrick Todd, MP, is Minister of State, Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Urban Development and Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner is Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development and Culture. (BGIS)