SIR FREDERICK SMITH passed away yesterday at age 92.
Opposition Leader Mia Mottley paid tribute to the former Attorney General, who also headed the Ministry of Communications and Works as well as Education and Sports.
Mottley said Sir Frederick, a founding member of the Democratic Labour Party, will feature prominently when the history of Barbados is written.
The full tribute follows:
“Sir Frederick Smith was quintessentially Barbadian. When the history of Barbados is written his name will feature prominently in the years to Independence and during the first 50 years of Independence.
With his passing we come to an end of an era of Barbadian politics.
Whether as Barbados’ first post-Independence Attorney-General or as Minister of Education or Minister of Public Works or indeed as Leader of the Opposition, Sir Frederick played his role in the building of this country through his political service. Upon retirement from politics he returned to the law where he served as President of the Court of Appeal in Grenada, then Chief Justice of Turks and Caicos and finally as a Court of Appeal Judge in Barbados.
But it is not the high offices he held for which he will be fondly remembered. It was his absolutely approachable demeanour.
“Sleepy” Smith was down to earth and was as Bajan as they come – whether sitting in Court or walking through and talking to people in the courtyard; whether speaking on the floor of Parliament or moving around the precincts of Parliament dealing with ordinary Barbadians.
Sir Frederick spoke his mind at all times. Sometimes it worked for him and other times it put him at the centre of controversy. But he never stopped speaking his mind. That was the man – always.
On behalf of the Barbados Labour Party and on behalf of my family and myself, I would like to extend deepest condolences to his wife Lois Lady Smith, his children, my dear friends Astrid and Craig, his grandchildren and the wider family.
May God bless his soul and our memory of the man and his work.” (PR)
