2007 INDEPENDENCE DAY HONOURS LIST

2. Professor Hilary McDonald Beckles

In recognition of his distinguished service in the field of education in particular at University level and his dedication to the furtherance of the arts and sports in particular cricket.

COMPANION OF HONOUR OF BARBADOS

For distinguished national achievement and merit.

(Number of awards available 3)

1. Mr. Oliver Miller Browne, Q.C.
For his contribution to the legal profession and the public service.

2. Dr. Leonard Alfred Nurse, BCH
For his internationally recognised work on Climate Change.

GOLD CROWN OF MERIT

For highly meritorious service or achievement in science, the arts, literature, sports, civic duties or any other endeavour worthy of national recognition.

(Number of awards available 4)

1. Mr. Paul Bernard Altman, BCH, J.P.
For his significant contribution to the development of the tourism sector and the preservation of the heritage of Barbados.

2. Mr. Winston Hudson Bayley
For his outstanding contribution and unwavering commitment to the service of his country and the Barbadian people especially those resident in Jamaica.

3. Mr. Robert Livingstone Morris
For his outstanding contribution to the labour movement.

4. Professor Velma Patricia Scantlebury-White
For her outstanding contribution to the medical field especially in the area of kidney transplant surgery.

SILVER CROWN OF MERIT

For meritorious service or achievement in science, the arts, literature, sports, civic duties or any other endeavour worthy of national recognition.

(Number of awards available 4)

1. Mr. John Benjamin Blackman
For his significant contribution to education and development of the youth.

2. Mr. Anthony Altuero Gilkes
For his outstanding contribution to journalism and the development of culture and the arts.

3. The Reverend Canon George Andrew Hatch
For his contribution to the community and in particular his significant contribution to the Church.

4. Mrs. Rita Gwendolyn Springer
For her significant contribution to education in particular the development of the hospitality sector.

BARBADOS SERVICE STAR

For meritorious work in the civil, fire, military, police, prison or other protective services or any other similar field of endeavour.

(No. of Awards available 5)

1. Mr. Bertram Corbin
For his contribution to the Church, the public and private sectors and the community.

2. Mrs. Claudine Elise Prescott
For her outstanding contribution to education.

3. Ms. Elayne Gwendoline Scantlebury
For her dedication, commitment and devotion to the delivery of quality nursing care to the people of Barbados

4. Mrs. Norma Minta Walker
For her exemplary service to the National Insurance Office in particular and the public service in general.

5. Mr. Charles John Wiltshire
For his contribution to the boat building industry.

BARBADOS SERVICE MEDAL

For meritorious work in the civil, fire, military, police, prison or other protective services or any other similar field of endeavour.

(Number of awards available 5)

1. Ms. Isaline Elaine Brathwaite
For her contribution to the health of Barbadians and community service.

2. Mr. Derek Sewell Blackburn Davies
For his service to the military and the community at large.

3. Ms. Gloria Iona Skeete, J.P.
For her outstanding contribution to education, the Church and the community.

4. Mrs. Monica Eureka Williams
For her contribution to the public service.

BARBADOS BRAVERY MEDAL

For acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.

(Unlimited awards available)

None.

2007 Independence Day Honours List

His Excellency The Acting Governor-General, Sir Fred Winlyn Gollop, KA, Q.C., will on Friday, November 30, confer National Honours and present insignia to a number of persons in a ceremony to be held at Government House on the occasion of the Forty-first Anniversary of the Independence of Barbados.

The Barbados National Honours and Decorations System was instituted by Letters Patent dated July 25, 1980.

The Letters Patent provide inter alia, for the establishment of the Order of Barbados in which there are four (4) classes of awards:-

(a) Knight or Dame of St. Andrew

(b) Companion of Honour of Barbados

(c) The Crown of Merit in two grades –
The Gold and Silver ?
(d) The Barbados Service Award in two grades-
The Star and Medal

The Barbados Star of Gallantry, the Barbados Bravery Medal and the Services Medal of Honour were also instituted by Letters Patent dated July 25, 1980.

Over the years, awards have been made to persons in various fields of endeavour. This year, the public and private sectors are represented in the areas of law, public service, medicine, education, tourism and hospitality, boat building, community service and labour relations.

KNIGHT OF ST. ANDREW

For extraordinary and outstanding achievement and merit in service to Barbados and to humanity at large.

SIR KYFFIN SIMPSON, K.A., CBE, was born on September 29, 1942 in the parish of St. John. He completed his secondary education in Barbados at the Lodge School and went on to the UK to continue his studies.

On his return to Barbados he worked in several industries including the retail sector. This prepared him for his future in the commercial world. Mr. Simpson has a natural affinity for people which endears him to everyone that comes into contact with him. His love of cars propelled him to take advantage of the opportunity to manage several gas stations in the early 1970’s and this provided a platform of development for the industry that he grew into. So when the door opened to own a small and failing Volkswagen and then Mercedes car dealership, he grasped the opportunity and made a success of it.

During the Energy Crisis of 1973/1974, Mr. Simpson realized that there was a need for a fuel efficient and cost effective vehicle as an alternative. He also recognized that there was a large entrepreneurial class of Barbadians who were not able to afford a vehicle for their businesses. He took a leap of faith and travelled to Japan to persuade a relatively new player — Suzuki Motor Company — to export Suzuki for the first time to this hemisphere. This relationship has led Suzuki Motor Company to establish a successful presence in the entire Caribbean region, and parts of North, South and Central America.

In 1976, Mr. Kyffin Simpson founded Simpson Motors and this has laid the groundwork for the group of companies that exists today and which represents such brands as Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Mercedes, Chrysler, Porsche, John Deere, JCB and Ingersoll Rand/Bobcat with a regional network from Bermuda in the north to Guyana in the south and from Central America in the west to Barbados in the East.

In 2005 Simpson Oil Limited (SOL), an affiliate of Interamericana Trading Corporation, headed by Kyffin Simpson made a buy-out of the retail and commercial fuel operations of Shell Antilles & Guiana’s Limited making it the largest independent oil company in the Caribbean. In 2006, SOL acquired Shell’s marketing and retail assets in Puerto Rico building this network even further. Most recently in September 2007, SOL announced its acquisition of additional stations from Exxon Mobil in Guyana, Suriname and Haiti, thus giving SOL one-third of the market in the 15 countries it now operates.

In addition to being Chairman of the Simpson Group of Companies Kyffin Simpson has served as director and shareholder of several major corporations including a charter director of the FirstCaribbean International Bank. He is also a member of the Board of the prestigious Americas Society and Council of the Americas whose mission is to promote awareness of the political, cultural and economic challenges currently facing the Western Hemisphere.

In 1999, Kyffin Simpson was awarded the title of Master Entrepreneur by Ernst and Young. In 2004 he was awarded the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) by Her Majesty and an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree (LLD) from the University of the West Indies.

Mr. Simpson has rendered outstanding service to Barbados, not only in the automotive field but through discreet benevolence to many local, regional and international charitable organizations, churches and missions and by serving on various boards such as Youth for Christ, Teen Challenge, the Barbados Children’s Trust and the Christ for all Nations organization.

Mr. Kyffin Simpson is married to Roberta. They have five children and nine grandchildren.

The Accolade of KNIGHT OF ST. ANDREW is being conferred in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the development of Barbados by the establishment of the first Caribbean Company in the energy industry and his lifelong contribution to business and philanthropy.

***

PROFESSOR SIR HILARY BECKLES, K.A., was born in Barbados on August 11, 1955 to Aidan Beckles and Carmentha Beckles and received his early secondary education at the Coleridge and Parry School. In 1969, he emigrated to England to join his parents and completed his schooling at Pitmaston Secondary in Birmingham. He attended the Bournville Community College before entering The University of Hull where he graduated in 1976 with Upper Second Class Honours in Economic and Social History. He won a Social Science Research Council Scholarship and continued at The University of Hull graduating in 1980 with a PhD in Economic History.

In 1980, Dr. Beckles joined the History Department, Mona Campus, UWI, as a Lecturer and in 1984 returned to Barbados when he joined the History Department at the Cave Hill Campus as a Senior Lecturer. In 1990 he was promoted to a Readership, and in 1993 the University of the West Indies conferred

on him a Personal Professorship for outstanding research. In 1994 Professor Beckles won the first Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in the category of research. In 1999, he returned to the Mona Campus as Pro-Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for Undergraduate Studies, and returned to Barbados in 2002 as Principal and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Cave Hill Campus.

Professor Beckles has won many awards for his contribution to teaching and scholarship, and has served on many national, regional and international academic, professional, and corporate boards and committees. He served as international editor for the Journal of American History, and on the publishing committee of the Institute of Early American History and Culture, as well as the Journal of Caribbean History. He is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the University of the West Indies Press. In 1986-87, he was Senior Research Fellow at London University and in 1994 Caribbean Scholar in Residence at New York University.

Professor Beckles has served as a member of The Cultural Fund of His Royal Highness Prince Claus of Netherlands, and as a Director of the Caribbean World Cup, Inc. and the West Indies Cricket Board. He is a member of the UNESCO Slave Routes Project, the United Nations World Culture Report Group, UNESCO Cities for Peace Programme, and led the Barbados Delegation to the UN Conference on Race in Durban, South Africa in 2002. He is the Chairman of The Barbados National Sports Council.

Professor Beckles has published 19 books, including The History of Barbados (Cambridge University Press), Chattel House Blues: Origins of Democracy in Barbados (Ian Randle Publishers), A Social History of Enslaved Black Women in Barbados (Rutgers University Press), and The Development of West Indies Cricket (Pluto Press). He has authored over 100 research papers, and has published in leading academic journals. He has written four plays which have been staged in Barbados. He has given distinguished lectures at Universities throughout the world, and as a university administrator has been an advocate for public access to higher education.

Professor Beckles is married to Mary Beckles and has two children, Rodney and Biko Beckles.

The Accolade of KNIGHT OF ST. ANDREW is being conferred in recognition of his distinguished service in the field of education in particular at University level and his dedication to the furtherance of the arts and sports in particular cricket.

***

COMPANION OF HONOUR OF BARBADOS

For distinguished national achievement and merit.

THE HONOURABLE OLIVER MILLER BROWNE, CHB, Q.C., a citizen of Barbados, was born in Guyana, then British Guiana on January 1, 1930, to Barbadian parents Dr. John Alexander Browne and Vita Browne, who had emigrated to British Guiana in the early 1920’s.

He attended Harrison College, Barbados and left with a Higher School Certificate in Classics (Latin & Greek). He was an above average athlete at school and held a Class II 100 yards record at age 15 for over 40 years until it was equalled, and soon after broken in 1992 by Obadele Thompson.

He entered the London School of Economics, London University, England where he obtained a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LL.B.), in 1952. He was called to the English Bar as a Barrister-at-Law of the Middle Temple, in November 1953 and was admitted to practice in Barbados in January 1954.

Mr. Browne entered private practice as a Barrister-at-Law in the Coleridge Street Chambers of the late W. W. Jubie Reece, Q.C., from January 1954 until January 1955. He worked in Antigua as Registrar of the Court (1955) and as a Magistrate (1956-1958).

After a short stint in the British Virgin Islands where he served as Crown Attorney and Registrar of the High Court (1958-1960), he returned to Barbados and worked as Crown Counsel in the Attorney-General’s Chambers in 1960 rising to the position of Senior Crown Counsel in 1963 and Solicitor General in 1967.

In March 1969, Mr. Browne was appointed Queen’s Counsel. He became the first Solicitor General in independent Barbados and remained in the position for 13 years until his retirement in 1979.

He joined the Law Firm of Carrington & Sealy as a Partner in January 1980 and currently serves as a Consultant in the Firm. He continues to be the Firm’s lawyer in charge of the Firm’s portfolio of being External Counsel and Legal Advisor to the Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

Mr. Browne has served in many capacities, while in the public service and private practice, including Counsel to the Adrian Date Commission of Enquiry in 1966 into Conditions of the Royal Barbados Police Force; Director of the Barbados National Bank during 1980 and 1985; Member and Deputy Chairman of

the Public Service Commission from 1987 to 1996; Member of Carrington & Sealy’s Legal Team of External Counsel and Advisors to the Central Bank of Barbados; and Director of the Barbados Mortgage Finance Limited from 1983-1994.

Between 2004 and April 2006, Mr. Browne along with Dr. Adrian Cummins, Q.C., Carrington & Sealy’s lawyers, were briefed as External Counsels by the Government to assist with the Law of the Sea Fisheries and Marine Boundary delimitation dispute with Trinidad & Tobago which reached the International Arbitral Tribunal and between 2006 and October 2007 assisted with the negotiations for a merger between LlAT and Allan Stanford’s Caribbean Star Airlines.

In 1991, Oliver Browne was awarded the Honour of Gold Crown of Merit (GCM).

Oliver Browne is married to Maureen Browne and they are the parents of Jeffrey and Karen, the grandparents of two girls and two boys, and the great grandparents of one boy, Kristian.

The award of COMPANION OF HONOUR OF BARBADOS is being made in recognition of his contribution to the legal profession and the public service.

***

DR. THE HONOURABLE LEONARD ALFRED NURSE, CHB, BCH, was born on May 6, 1953 to Malcolm (deceased) and Glenetha Nurse, and received his secondary education at Combermere School. He was awarded a First Class Honours Degree from the UWI, Mona, MSc from Memorial University, Newfoundland, Canada, and a PhD in 1987 from McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

Dr. Nurse has served his country in various capacities with distinction, including a stint as Tutor, Barbados Community College, Director, Coastal Zone Management Unit, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment. He was the first Chairman of Barbados National Terminal Company Ltd., and is the longest serving Director of the Barbados National Oil Company Ltd., (1989-Present).

Regionally and internationally, he has served on many technical and advisory bodies. He is former Vice-Chair of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions

(IOCARIBE), was a member of the Technical and Scientific Advisory Panel of the World Bank (2002-2004), and is presently Chairman of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, headquartered in Belize. Dr. Nurse is also a Director of The Bellairs Research Institute of McGill University.

He is currently Senior Lecturer, Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies, UWI, Cave Hill, where he teaches Coastal Management and is coordinator for the MSc. Stream in Climate Change. For the last fifteen years, he has been an active researcher and author with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an independent scientific body established jointly in 1989 by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme. He is well published in a number of scholarly journals and has co-authored four chapters for the IPCC in books published by Cambridge University Press. The Panel, of which he is a member, was this year awarded the Nobel Prize for its immense contribution to research on the science of climate change.

In 2001, he received the Barbados Centennial Honour (BCH), as well as the Governor General’s Award for Environmental Achievement.

Dr. Nurse is married to Marcia Nurse, and is the father of two daughters, Claire and Camille.

The award of COMPANION OF HONOUR OF BARBADOS is being made in recognition of his internationally recognised work on Climate Change.

***

GOLD CROWN OF MERIT

For highly meritorious service or achievement in science, the arts, literature, sports, civic duties or any other endeavour worthy of national recognition.

MR. PAUL BERNARD ALTMAN, GCM, BCH, J.P., was born in Barbados on March 11, 1948 to Henry and Deborah Altman and received his secondary education at Harrison College before entering the University of Miami to pursue a Degree in Business. He graduated from the University of Miami in 1969 with a major in Economics and was awarded a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree.

On his return to Barbados he assisted his father in running family owned property investments and gradually ventured into his own investments starting with The Speightstown Mall in 1978. This led to his current ownership of Altman Real Estate representing clients in Barbados and other Caribbean islands.

He is a Past President of the Barbados National Trust. Under his presidency he spent much time and effort in completing the full restoration of Tyrol Cot Heritage Village and Museum, the Morgan Lewis Sugar Windmill, Wildey House and the Bridgetown Synagogue. He was the guiding force behind the Arbib Nature and Heritage Trail.

Mr. Altman is now in the process of overseeing the completion of the Museum at Arlington House and Nidhe Israel Museum.

Mr. Altman is currently Chairman of the Board of Trustees for The Endowment Fund, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus and serves as a member of the Campus Council as the Chancellor’s nominee.

He is the Founding Chairman of the Barbados Community Foundation and serves as a Director of a number of listed Barbadian and offshore companies.

Mr. Altman was a recipient of the Barbados Centennial Honour (BCH) in 2000.

Mr. Altman is married to Rachelle and they are the parents of two girls Rina and Abigail.

The award of GOLD CROWN OF MERIT is being made in recognition of his significant contribution to the development of the tourism sector and the preservation of the heritage of Barbados.

***

MR. WINSTON HUDSON BAYLEY, GCM, was born in St. Michael, Barbados on August 9, 1939 to Mignon Bayley, Teacher and Colin Bayley, Bandsman in the Police Band. He received his secondary education at Harrison College, and later graduated from the University of the West Indies with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics & Business Administration. He also attended the London School of Accountancy and is a Fellow of the Certified and Chartered Accountants.

Mr. Bayley was appointed to the post of Honorary Consul to Jamaica in 1982 and it is in this capacity that he has served Barbados as an extraordinary citizen for the past 25 years.

Despite his long tenure overseas, Mr. Bayley has remained unquestionably ‘Barbadian’ with frequent trips home to savour the culture he proudly claims as his own. He typifies the much advertised warmth and hospitality of the Barbadian people in the execution of his duties as Honorary Consul where he is called upon to act as Diplomat, Host, Facilitator, Advisor, Advocate and Liaison. Mr. Bayley and his team readily respond to the welfare issues of Barbadians and give assistance to some Barbadians who have fallen on rough times. He has also served as a cultural ambassador organising the Annual Independence Celebrations which have grown tremendously over the years and is a much anticipated event on the University calendar; spearheading the Barbadian students’ involvement in the University’s many cultural expositions; ensuring that there is a Barbadian contribution at the Annual Charity Craft Sale hosted at the Jamaica Hilton among many other things.

Mr. Bayley has always found time to listen and to identify with the varied needs of Barbadian students and to give that feeling of a ‘home away from home’. An example of the former was during Hurricane Ivan in 2004. The circumstances affecting Barbadian students at Mona created in the students some degree of tension which had far-reaching government and media response in Barbados. During that difficult period there was a magnanimous effort on the part of the Consulate, under the direction of Mr. Bayley to ensure the safety, security and comfort of the scores of students who were in Jamaica at that time.

Mr. Bayley has ably represented Barbados on business and social occasions, interacting with a wide cross section of government and private sector representatives of Jamaica, as well as Consular and other diplomatic representatives of other countries. He was Dean of the Consular Corps of Jamaica for three years and is currently the CARICOM Representative on the Executive. He received an award for outstanding contribution during his tenure as Dean.

Mr. Bayley is currently the Chief Financial Officer of the University of the West Indies (UWI) and has served and continues to serve on various Boards and Committees of the University of the West Indies, including that of the University Hospital of the West Indies, the University Finance & General Purposes Committee; the American Foundation for the UWI; the Development & Endowment Fund and the University Press.

The recipient of the Barbados Service Star in 1994, Mr. Bayley has received numerous awards for: outstanding service to the Consular Corps of Jamaica; significant contribution during his year as 2nd Vice President of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce; and for his contribution to the ongoing development of the Caribbean Association of Industry & Commerce (CAIC) and the Private Sector.

Mr. Bayley and his wife Marjorie have two children Brian Bayley and Dr. Jodi Bayley-Baptiste.

The award of GOLD CROWN OF MERIT is being made in recognition of his outstanding contribution and unwavering commitment to the service of his country and the Barbadian people especially those resident in Jamaica.

***

MR. ROBERT LIVINGSTONE MORRIS, GCM, was born at Fairview, Christ Church on August 7, 1947 to Livingstone and Delcina Morris. He was educated at St. Patrick’s Boys’ and Foundation Boys’ Schools, Erdiston Teachers’ Training College and the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, as a Sir Herbert Greaves scholar, graduating with an Upper Second Class Honours Degree. He later attended the International Institute of Labour Studies, Geneva, and Harvard University, as an Osmond Dyce Scholar. At the latter, under the supervision of Professor John Dunlop he received a Grade of Excellence for his term paper ‘Unchanging Labour Relations in Bridgetown Docks’.

Mr. Morris joined the trade union movement in 1965, and has been a member of the Executive of the Barbados Union of Teachers (1968-1970), the West Indies Group of University Teachers (1974-1976) and the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union. He was elected President of the Barbados Workers’ Union Division of the Barbados Community College in 1979 and was recruited to the Staff of the Barbados Workers’ Union in August 1981 as Personal Assistant to the late Rt. Excellent Sir Frank Walcott and Deputy General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union.

Mr. Morris is currently Director of Industrial Relations at the Barbados Workers’ Union Labour College and has been increasingly active in negotiating collective agreements across a wide range of companies in the private sector. In the latter role his major function is that of negotiating collective agreements across a wide range of companies in the private sector. He has played a significant role in the establishment of the Social Compact, and the National Productivity Council.

He led the negotiating team on the workers’ side for the Caribbean wide framework agreement with FirstCaribbean International Bank Inc.

Mr. Morris has served as First Vice President of the Caribbean Congress of Labour and was engaged as an External Collaborator by the ILO to train hundreds of trade unionists in the English and Dutch Caribbean territories. The result of the training included the publication of three training manuals, which have since been reprinted, on New Issues in Collective Bargaining; Trade Union Administration and Trade Unions and Globalisation.

As an extension of his trade union activities, Mr. Morris was the founder Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union Cooperative Credit Union Limited, and also served as a Vice President and Treasurer of that organisation.

In the tradition of early Barbadian trade unionists he was a Member of the House of Assembly for Christ Church for the period 1986 to 1994.

During that period he also served on the International Executive of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and was Chairman of its Staff Committee. He functioned as an Observer on mission to report on elections in Pakistan and South Africa.

Apart from his trade union activities, Mr. Morris has taught at Princess Margaret Secondary, the Barbados Community College, and the University of the West Indies. He was an Assistant Chief Examiner for the Caribbean Examinations Council. Mr. Morris was a Founder Member of the Barbados Writers’ Workshop, and has written and produced plays and poetry for CARIFESTA. He is a Life Member of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society and has written articles for publication on Barbados History. He has edited the book “Frankly Speaking”, covering excerpts from writings by the late Sir Frank Walcott.

He is married to Christina Morris. His children are Robert Jr., Rovel, Anthony and Erica.

The award of GOLD CROWN OF MERIT is in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the labour movement.

***

PROFESSOR VELMA PATRICIA SCANTLEBURY-WHITE, GCM, is a Transplant Surgeon, Professor of Surgery, Assistant Dean for Community Education, Director of the Division of Transplantation, and Director of the University of South Alabama Regional Transplant Centre. Professor Scantlebury has become the nation’s first African American female transplant surgeon. In her career, she has performed more than 1000 kidney transplants.

Dr. Scantlebury was born in Barbados, on October 6, 1955 to Kathleen and Delacey Scantlebury. She is the youngest of 3 sisters and 4 brothers. She began her education at the Alleyne School.

At age 13, she settled with her parents in Brooklyn’s Bedford Stuyvesant. Overcoming the difficulties of an unfamiliar milieu, she won a four-year scholarship to Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus as a pre-med major.

In her senior year, she participated in research and co-authored a scientific paper on Endoscopic Polypectomy with Kenneth Forde also a native of Barbados, who was a powerful role model. But to her dismay, other members of the surgical faculty discouraged her from pursuing surgery, her preceptor going so far as to withhold his recommendation. He offered, instead, to recommend her to pediatric training.

Upon completion of a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, she went on to earn her medical degree from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons followed by the completion of both an internship and residency in general surgery at Harlem Hospital Center in New York City. She began her work at the University of Pittsburgh in 1986 as a clinical fellow in transplant surgery under the direction of liver transplant pioneer Thomas E. Starzl, M.D., Ph.D.

In 2002, Dr. Scantlebury was appointed Professor of Surgery and Director of the University of South Alabama’s Gulf Coast Regional Transplant Center. An active educator in the field of African American organ donation, Dr. Scantlebury has served as a member of the board for the American Society of Minority Health and Transplant Professionals and as a spokesperson for Linkages to Life, an initiative to encourage African Americans to become organ donors.

Listed in “Who’s Who of American Women,” she was voted among the Best Doctors in America, received the Outstanding Young Women of America Annual Award, the National Kidney Foundation’s Gift of Life Award, the Black Achievers Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award of the American Society of Minority Health and Transplant Professionals, as well as Honorary Doctor of Science Degrees from Seton Hill College in Pennsylvania and from LIU, her

undergraduate alma mater. In 2003, she was named a National Inductee for the 2003 United Negro College Fund’s Hall of Fame Achiever Award.

She serves on several national and local boards, and has given countless lectures and presentations at professional meetings and public forums and has frequently been interviewed for documentaries and for radio and TV programs.

Dr. Scantlebury is married to Harvey White, Ph.D., a Professor of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh and current President of the American Society of Public Administrators. She also has two teenage daughters Akela and Aisha.

The award of GOLD CROWN OF MERIT is in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the medical field especially in the area of kidney transplant surgery.

***

SILVER CROWN OF MERIT

For meritorious service or achievement in science, the arts, literature, sports, civic duties and any other endeavours worthy of national recognition.

MR. JOHN BENJAMIN BLACKMAN, SCM, was born in Barbados on January 16, 1936 to Simeon and Iris Blackman and received his secondary education at the Barbados Academy and the Barbados Evening Institute and his tertiary and professional education from Erdiston College, the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus and Columbia University, New York.

Mr. Blackman holds a Diploma from Erdiston College, the Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree from the University of the West Indies and a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from Columbia University.

Mr. Blackman joined the Public Service in 1956 as a Nurse and gained his Registration in Psychiatric Nursing. He entered the Teaching Service in 1962 and during his thirty-four years of service he served at eight schools across the island, reaching the pinnacle of his career in 1992 when he was appointed the first Principal of Deighton Griffith School.

It was at the Deighton Griffith School that he distinguished himself as a competent leader and administrator. He quickly transformed a student body of 600 students from 25 schools, and 34 teachers from 23 schools into a homogeneous unit which functioned harmoniously.

Mr. Blackman had zero tolerance for indiscipline. He himself chose the motto of the Deighton Griffith School “Disciplina ad bonam vitam necessaria.” “Discipline is necessary for a good life.” In his quest for discipline, he received full support from all the stakeholders – parents, students, staff, the Ministry of Education and, the Barbadian public. The school quickly became synonymous with high standards of discipline including a proper dress code. Consequently, parents and guardians rate the school highly in their choices for schools at the Common Entrance Examination.

He was President of the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) and the Co-ordinator of the first Teachers’ Professional Day in Barbados which was hosted by the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union at Combermere School in 1986. The following year, he co-ordinated the first Teachers’ Evaluation Workshop (a four-day event) again hosted by the BSTU at the School of Education. He was a member of the first National Advisory Commission on Education and a Sunday columnist of one of our daily newspapers – The Nation.

Mr. John Blackman is married to Lyris Blackman and has four children, John Jr., Don, Dean and Joy.

The award of SILVER CROWN OF MERIT is being awarded in recognition of his significant contribution to education and the development of the youth.

*****

MR. ANTHONY ALTUERO “AL” GILKES, SCM, was born in Barbados on January 29, 1941 to Sylvean and Millicent Gilkes and received his secondary education at Harrison College.

During the ensuing years of his career, first in journalism and then Public Relations, he pursued courses of study in Management at the Barbados Institute of Management and Productivity (BIMAP), Mass Communications at State University of New York (SUNY), Newsroom Management at the University of Chicago, and Business Studies at the University of the West Indies (UWI).

After leaving Harrison College in 1960, he took his first job as a trainee reporter at the Barbados Advocate. His graphic and descriptive writing style led him to be appointed feature writer of that newspaper.

The period 1973 to 1990 distinguished Mr. Gilkes as one of the finest Barbadian and Caribbean journalists of his time.

In 1973, he helped to establish the Nation Publishing Company and subsequently played a vital role in crafting the editorial strategies that saw the Nation newspaper evolve from a fledging weekly to a dominant daily publication catering to the information needs of the masses of Barbadians at home and abroad.

During that period, Mr. Gilkes demonstrated the true extent of his creative journalistic talent as he simultaneously juggled duties of editor, working journalist, columnist (Al’s Grapevine) and trainer.

With the launch of each new Nation publication, his responsibility progressed from Feature Editor to News Editor, Midweek Editor, Weekend Editor, Sunday Editor, Daily Editor and Senior Editor, his final post with the company.

Mr. Gilkes also travelled the Caribbean extensively to keep Barbadians fully informed, through his inimitable reporting of significant events that impacted the region, ranging from violent elections in Jamaica to the eruption of the volcano in St. Vincent and the Abu Bakar-led parliamentary hostage drama in Trinidad, among others.

In 1980, he became the first Barbadian to receive the coveted Caribbean Journalist of the Year Award, in recognition of his life-risking coverage the previous year of the Maurice Bishop-led coup in Grenada, the eruption of St. Vincent’s Soufriere Volcano and the devastation of Dominica by Hurricane David.

In 1984, he spent three weeks with the Rebel West Indies Cricket team in South Africa, after which he produced a gripping seven-part newspaper series on the life of Blacks under the oppressive Apartheid regime. This was also published in Jamaica and Trinidad.

He was on the docks in faraway Bilbao, Spain, to get the first interview and scoop on then Government Minister, the late Captain George Fergusson, who had been missing at sea for almost two weeks and presumed dead.

Mr. Gilkes was ordered arrested for contempt of court by a Martinique judge when he penetrated security in order to interview Barbadian gun runner, Sidney Burnett-Alleyne, who had just been sentenced to jail for sailing a yacht laden with ammunition to attempt an overthrow of the Tom Adams-led Government in Barbados.

He also flew 25 hours to the Falkland Islands with the Royal Air Force to report on the aftermath of the war between Britain and Argentina over ownership of those barren South Atlantic islands.

In 1994, with Apartheid dismantled, Al Gilkes returned to South Africa with the first official West Indies Cricket team tour, this time to record and produce yet another memorable series about that significant period in world history, including the first interview by a Caribbean journalist of Nelson Mandela after his release from prison.

Mr. Gilkes’ successful career in journalism also runs parallel with his part-time cultural pursuits as musician, event promoter, entertainment manager and stage producer. He has served as a member of the entertainment committee for Barbados’ first Independence celebration in 1966; a member of the body selected to revive and launch the Crop Over Festival in 1973; a director of the Barbados Folk Theatre, which presented “One of our Sons is Missing” – the first HIV/AIDS awareness play to be staged in Barbados; a director of FAS Entertainment Services, producers of the now internationally-acclaimed annual Barbados Reggae Festival; and Chairman of the National Cultural Foundation from 1997 until the present.

Mr. Gilkes is married to Angela Gilkes and is the father of eight, Kelly, Tricia, Kathyann, Karen, Ajani, Al Jr., Alex and Damani.

The award of SILVER CROWN OF MERIT is in recognition of his outstanding contribution to journalism and the development of culture and the arts

****

THE REVEREND CANON GEORGE ANDREW HATCH, SCM, was born at Boscobelle Rectory on December 31, 1929 to Alfred and Pearl Hatch. He received his secondary education at Harrison College. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Leeds, England and undertook the General Ordination Examination in Theology at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield, England. He was ordained at Guildford in 1953 and served his Title at St. Mark’s Farnborough, Hampshire, England.

In 1955 he married Sheila Grant. He returned to the Caribbean that same year where he worked as Rector of Bequia, Mustique, Canouan and Union islands for two years before his transfer to Gouyave, Grenada for six years.

Andrew Hatch became Rector of St. Mary’s Church in Bridgetown in 1963. Concerned about unemployment amongst St. Mary’s choristers he started a solar water-heating project in Emmerton Lane. While at St. Mary’s he began a monthly general interest column in The Bajan magazine, which continued for 15 years. His concern for the priesthood led to the start of a Diocesan Fellowship of Vocation. The Diocesan Men’s Fellowship also started at St. Mary’s Church. He was a Board Member of the Barbados Family Planning Association for 15 years.

He officiated at the opening of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) at their Lazaretto Studios in 1963 and became a Director of CBC. Concerned with the clergy’s unfamiliarity with radio and soon-to-be-launched television station he drew together clergy from the Methodist, Moravian and Roman Catholic Churches for training. This led to the establishment of Communicarib at Codrington College and the initiation of the Barbados Christian Council.

The Junior Chamber of Commerce elected him as one of two outstanding young men of the year 1967.

In 1971 he was appointed as Chaplain of the Senate, a post he held for four years; and his involvement in wider public affairs led him to join the fledgling ecumenical agency: Christian Action for Development in the Caribbean (CADEC) as Associate Director in 1972.

Among Bajan-based projects to which he related were: the solar water heating industry; the Windows-to-the-Sea campaign for which he was named Man of the Year in 1980; he was Deputy Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation for its first eleven years.

In 1976 he was made an Independent Senator and elected Deputy President of the Senate. He wrote a weekly column for the Nation newspaper for two years and from 1974 moderated CBC’s call-in programme: Guttaperk until “relieved” of the post.

Reverend Canon Andrew Hatch was appointed rector of St. James in 1982 until retirement in 1994. He sat on the Commission on Social Justice; the Law & Order Commission and is currently a member of the Commission of Inquiry into the fire at Glendairy.

In 2006 he published his memoirs: “Will of the Wind”.

The Hatches have a daughter Rachel Wilkie and a son Marcus.

The award of SILVER CROWN OF MERIT is being awarded in recognition of his contribution to the community and in particular his significant contribution to the Church

***

MRS. RITA GWENDOLYN SPRINGER, SCM, was born on May 28, 1914 in Barbados where she received her primary and secondary school education at Miss Bayley’s Private School, Roebuck Street and Miss Nella Taitt’s Primary School, Fairchild Street (opposite the old train station). In 1925 she received a full Government Vestry Scholarship to Queen’s College, where she completed her Senior Cambridge School Certificate.

Mrs. Springer also gained certificates from the Girls’ Industrial Union — Domestic Science (Cooking and Handicrafts) and became a supervisor and administrative assistant at A.C. Cozier & Co., her father’s hardware business. In 1937, she attended an international Guide Camp in England on the occasion of the Coronation of King George VI.

Rita Springer lectured (1950-1957) in Food & Nutrition at the Housecraft Centre (now the Hospitality Institute, Hotel Pommarine, of the Barbados Community College) and in 1962 compiled a booklet “Recipes of the Islands” for Roberts Manufacturing Company to promote their new Glow Spread margarine product. Rita Springer was the original “Mrs. Cookit” on a Food & Nutrition radio programme sponsored by Super Centre Ltd.

In the mid-1960’s, she pursued a Nutrition course in England. On graduating, she was granted Associate Membership of the Royal Society of Health.

In 1968 she launched her “Caribbean Cookbook” published by Evans Brothers — the first Caribbean cookbook to be published by a West Indian. Over the years this book has been sold throughout the Caribbean. Methuen bookshops sold it in Canada. Americans acquired their copies mostly when visiting the Caribbean or as gifts from people living in the Caribbean. Later it was sold in New Zealand, Australia, and a few of the African countries. During the first 32 years of its existence it was published by many different publishers, including Harper Collins in Glasgow, Scotland in association with Pan-Macmillan Books Ltd. and

Macmillan Publishers Ltd. In 2000, Caribbean Cookbook was re-launched by Ian Randle Publishers, Jamaica and is still in great demand.

In early December 2007 there will be the planned launch of her latest publication “A Lifetime of Recipes” by Rita Springer published by Miller Publishing Barbados and printed in Singapore. This is a comprehensive illustrated coffee table publication punctuated with snippets of human interest stories about the author. This book is dedicated to her twin great-grandchildren Maia Gabrielle and Joshua Alexander Springer.

Mrs. Springer has been a member of Alliance Française, the YWCA, the Corona Society and other service organisations and, with her husband, was a member of Lions International over the years.

She was married to the late Charles Reginald Courtenay Springer and is the mother of Basil and Helen; and the grandmother of Karen, Kevin and Bevan.

The award of SILVER CROWN OF MERIT is in recognition of her significant contribution to education in particular the development of the hospitality sector.

***

BARBADOS SERVICE STAR

For meritorious work in the civil, fire, military, police, prison or other protective services or any other similar fields of endeavour.

MR. BERTRAM CORBIN, BSS, was born in Barbados on October 17, 1947 to the late Julian Bertram and Merle Ernesta Corbin and received his secondary education at the Boys’ Foundation School. In 1977, he received a European Union Scholarship granted to the Barbados Government, following a screening process conducted by the UWI of other candidates. Mr. Corbin entered the Henley Management School, UK to pursue tertiary education in Management Studies.

Following his return to Barbados, he was appointed Manager of the Barbados Industrial Development Corporation (BIDC) Handicraft Division and during his tenure of office, managed the expansion of it sales outlets at new facilities at Heywoods Holiday Village, Harrison’s Cave and the Grantley Adams International Airport. Later in that same period, he would also manage the expansion of Pelican Village from six to eleven craft and sales shops. He
represented the Barbados Government in this sector at the Latin American Economic Society (SELA) becoming its First Vice President and organizing its only business meeting outside of Latin America which was held here in Barbados.

In addition, Mr. Corbin was invited by the Barbados Chamber of Commerce to volunteer his skills to the Junior Achievement Foundation of Barbados and spent the next sixteen years as a Business Advisor to 4th, 5th and 6th form students advising on conceptualizing, setting up and managing a business. He was also appointed to the Board of Directors later becoming its President for two terms. Subsequently, he was appointed Chairman of the Business Advisory Committee of the Board of Management of the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP) and facilitated the upgrade and expansion of its Computer department to meet the transfer from the use of typewriters to computers.

He has served in several capacities outside of his professional business. He was a founding member of the Christ Church District Football League, still flourishing as a provider of sporting opportunities for our youth, is a long standing member of the Christ Church Parish Church leading in its Music Ministry, Church Warden, Treasurer, Church Council member, lay representative to the Anglican Synod and a Ministry leader on visits to the sick and shut-ins within the community and a mentor to the vibrant youth ministry at the church. He has also volunteered his time to the Disabled Community organizing several fund raisers and as Secretary to an affiliated organization.

Mr. Corbin is married to Margaret Corbin and has two sons, Robert and Raymond.

The award of BARBADOS SERVICE STAR is being made in recognition of his contribution to the Church, the public and private sectors and the community.

***

MRS. CLAUDINE ELISE PRESCOTT, BSS, was born in Barbados on April 9, 1923 to Mr. and Mrs. Theophilus Norgrove. She received her Secondary Education at Girls’ Foundation School and the St. Michael Girls’ School. She obtained a Certificate in Early Childhood Education from Mills College of Education in the U.S.A.

Her teaching career spanned forty-six (46) years. She held several postings in the Primary School as an Assistant Teacher and subsequently became a Senior Teacher. Her next promotion was that of Principal of Wesley Hall Infants’ School.

She was also involved in Teacher Training from 1958 until her retirement in 1983. Her final promotion was to the Ministry of Education as an Education Officer in (1) Early Childhood Education and (2) Special Education. This assignment involved the establishment of three Nursery Schools and three Units in Special Education.

Mrs. Prescott was one of the five Caribbean Reading Specialists chosen to travel to Jamaica to collaborate with the author to design and produce “The Ladybird Sunstart Reading Scheme” series of books for young children. These books are widely used in Primary Schools across the world.

She received an appreciation award from the Ministry of Education in 1993 in recognition of her significant contribution to education in Barbados.

Mrs. Prescott was married to the late Dalton Prescott. From this union there is one son Dr. Ian Prescott.

The award of BARBADOS SERVICE STAR is in recognition of her outstanding contribution to education.

***

MS. ELAYNE GWENDOLINE SCANTLEBURY, BSS, SRN, RM, was born in Barbados on May 6, 1927 to Cecil and Elfreda Scantlebury and received her education at Boscobel Girls’ School.

On leaving school, Ms. Scantlebury worked first at the then St. Peter’s Almshouse in September 1945 as a Nurse Probationer and in 1949 was appointed as Assistant Probationer. From September 1949 to March 1951, she pursued her training in Midwifery at the Maternity Hospital, then located at “Verona,” Bank Hall, St. Michael. She was appointed Assistant Matron at the St. Peter’s Almshouse in 1952. From 1962-1965 she studied General Nursing at Kettering General Hospital in Northamptonshire, England and was then attached to Leicester General Hospital until November 1965, where she undertook Part one Midwifery.

On her return to Barbados in December 1965, she resumed duties at the St. Joseph Almshouse as Assistant Matron and was later transferred to the St. Thomas District Hospital in 1968.

In November 1969, she was assigned to the St. Andrew’s Maternity Hospital as Principal Nursing Officer where she remained until her retirement in 1987, by then the facility had undergone changes to become first a Geriatric Hospital and then a centre for mentally challenged children, known as “The St. Andrew’s Children’s Home”.

In 1988 Ms. Scantlebury received an Appreciation Award from the Speightstown Community group and in 2001 an Appreciation Award from the Barbados Organisation of Retired Nurses (B.O.R.N.).

On October 6, 2006 the St. Andrew’s Children’s Home was renamed “The Elayne Scantlebury Centre” in her honour.

Ms. Scantlebury has one son, Steve.

The award of BARBADOS SERVICE STAR is being made in recognition of her dedication, commitment and devotion to the delivery of quality nursing care to the people of Barbados.

***

MRS. NORMA MINTA WALKER, BSS, was born in Barbados on September 30, 1947 to Leonard and Violet Cumberbatch (both deceased) and received her secondary education at the Alexandra School.

She joined Barbados Public Service in 1966 with a short stint as a temporary teacher before joining the Public Library as a clerk in January 1967. In March 1967 she moved to the National Insurance Department as one the first employees who prepared for the launch of the National Insurance Scheme in June 1967. Mrs. Walker grew with the Scheme and experienced its numerous changes, having rendered valuable service in various sections thereby gaining in-depth knowledge of the workings of our social security system. Having started as a Clerk, Mrs. Walker rose through the ranks to reach her current post of Inspector in the Compliance Section.

In her present position, she travels the length and breadth of Barbados, where in addition to influencing employers and self-employed persons to comply with the National Insurance and Social Security legislation, she seizes every opportunity to educate the public at large of the importance of social protection especially among the vulnerable groups.

In addition to on-the-job training, Mrs. Walker has benefitted from a number of courses by other Social Security Organizations, the University of the West Indies School of Continuing Studies and Barbados Institute of Management and Productivity.

As a practising Christian, she is currently serving as the President of the Wesleyan Women Ministry in her Church.

Mrs. Norma Walker is married to Mr. Reuben Walker and has two children, Lesley and Neil.

The award of BARBADOS SERVICE STAR is being made in recognition of her exemplary service to the National Insurance Office in particular and the public service in general.

***

MR. CHARLES JOHN WILTSHIRE, BSS, was born to Ermentha Wiltshire and John Thomas Lorde on September 8, 1926 at Four Roads, St. Philip and received his early education at Four Roads Primary School before moving on to St. Martins where he completed his formal education at Class Seven which was the final class at that stage.

Mr. Wiltshire always had a love for boats. This accounted for him as a little boy, frequenting Foul Bay with the boys from his district. However, hardly would he get his skin wet, for while the boys would head for the sea, he would be so enamoured by the boats that he would just spend his time looking at the sail boats and pondering how the builders were able to construct such. He wanted to be like such artisans, he wanted to be a Boat Builder. He wanted to acquire the skills.

However, his father had other plans for him; he wanted his son to follow in his footsteps as a carpenter and hence saw to it that he accompanied him as he plied his trade as a carpenter. When there was no carpentry to be done, he joined his two brothers as they built coffins and buses.

Mr. Wiltshire never gave up on his dream of becoming a Boat Builder. Mr. Corlette Yarde a renowned Boat Builder taught him the rudiments of Boat Building. As a result of his great desire to be a Boat Builder, Mr. Wiltshire did not depend on Mr. Yarde to supply him with tools but bought his own. Mr. Yarde was so impressed with his progress as a student and his maturity, that he soon entrusted him with additional work.

Mr. Wiltshire knew that there was more in store for him and while he gained invaluable advice from Mr. Yarde, he had a thirst for more and so went to the Library where he engrossed himself in the theory of Boat Building. Today, Mr. Wiltshire not only possesses a practical understanding but also a theoretical understanding of Boat Building.

Recognizing that there was more knowledge to be gained outside of Barbados, Mr. Wiltshire, migrated to England where he familiarized himself with the English way of building wooden boats. He returned to Barbados in 1971 and immediately equipped himself with a 12” electric band saw and 16” wide electric plane and began the process of Boat Building.

Mr. Wiltshire can say that between 1955 and 1961 he was responsible for the building of fifteen boats and some twenty-three between 1972 and 2003. Today, though retired, his expertise as a renowned Boat Builder is acknowledged as those in the industry still seek his advice.

For Mr. Wiltshire, “Pride and Industry” is more than a motto, it is what he has lived. He is a proud Barbadian and is extremely proud of being able to serve his country in the area of Boat Building.

Mr. Wiltshire is married to Denice Wiltshire and their union has produced three sons – Andrew, Timothy and Charles.

The award of BARBADOS SERVICE STAR is being made in recognition of his contribution to the boat building industry.

***

THE BARBADOS SERVICE MEDAL

For meritorious work in the civil, fire, military, police, prison or other protective services or in any other similar field of endeavour.

MRS. ISALINE ELAINE BRATHWAITE, BSM, was born in Trinidad on the June 12, 1923 to George and Maude Bishop, while her father George was on assignment there. She came to Barbados at the age of two and received her secondary education at the then St. Michael’s Girls’ School.

On leaving school (with additional training at the Housecraft Centre and earning a City & Guilds Certificate in Nutrition), she worked at the General Hospital as a Supervisor (Kitchen).
She took leave of absence to attend the New York School of Dietetics in the United States where she majored in Therapeutic Dietetics and Nutrition and gained diplomas in both areas.

On her return to Barbados she continued working in her chosen field at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital as a Therapeutic Dietitian and was later transferred to the Psychiatric Hospital where she remained until her retirement.

Mrs. Brathwaite has rendered outstanding service to Barbados as a Nutritionist/Dietitian and continues to do so during her retirement.

Mrs. Brathwaite was married to the late George Brathwaite; a marriage which produced three sons, George Jr., Neil and Maurice.

The award of BARBADOS SERVICE MEDAL is being made in recognition of her contribution to the health of Barbadians and community service.

***

MR. DEREK SEWELL BLACKBURN DAVIES, BSM, was born on November 27, 1922. He received his secondary education at Harrison College during the period 1936-1941 after which he joined the staff of the Royal Bank of Canada as a teller. Shortly afterwards the young Derek was granted leave to join Her Majesty’s Forces in Great Britain.

During the period September 1942 to April 10, 1947, Mr. Davies was a World War II Air Gunner with 224 Squadron the Coastal Command of the Royal Airforce in the United Kingdom. In 1945 he was seconded to the Colonial Office in London with the rank of Warrant Officer to assist with the care and repatriation of West Indians to their homeland.

After returning to his homeland in 1947, Derek Davies returned to the Royal Bank of Canada where he spent six years before moving on to greener pastures in British Guiana where he spent ten years. Upon Mr. Davies’ return to Barbados in 1963 he assumed a Directorship with the company Hanschell & Larsen. From 1973 Derek gave dedicated service to the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (Broad Street) where he worked as Credit Officer for the West Indies and then as Manager at the Worthing, Oistins and Peronne Plaza branches. In 1983 he then moved on to the post of Accounts Manager at Johnson’s Stables and Garage Limited. From 1993 to 2006 he was the Honorary Treasurer of the Barbados Military Cemetery Association.

Today Derek Davies is still an active member of the Legion Council. He also was the Honorary Treasurer of the Society of Friends of the Garrison from 2000 to 2006.

Mr. Davies is the father of two children, a son and daughter.

The award of BARBADOS SERVICE MEDAL is being made for his service to the military and the community at large.

***

MS. GLORIA IONA SKEETE, BSM, JP., was born on April 22, 1927 to the late Theodore and Eva Skeete. She was educated at the Sharon Combined School (renamed Sharon Mixed and now Sharon Primary) and the St. Michael’s Girls’ School (now The St. Michael School).

Ms. Skeete began her teaching career in May 1946 serving as a supernumerary teacher at the Sharon Mixed School for one term. This was followed by another term’s stint at the Edgehill Memorial Girls’. In January 1947 she was appointed at the Southborough Boys’ where she remained until March 1948; she then returned to Sharon Mixed where she spent twenty-three (23) years. In September 1971 she was transferred to Turner’s Hall Primary to act as Senior Teacher until she was subsequently appointed to that post. She acted as Head Teacher of the Turner’s Hall Primary School for a short period, prior to her retirement in April 1987.

Ms. Skeete is a faithful member of the Sharon Moravian Church. She served as a Sunday School teacher for fifty-five (55) years (1942 – 1997). She has also served as a member of the Board of Stewards and the Board of Elders respectively. Her contribution to the Church’s musical experience ranges from her membership of the Junior Choir at a tender age, to Pianist and Director. She was also a member of the Senior Choir for many years and voluntarily assisted as organist when there was a need. From the inception of the Moravian Music Academy to present day, Ms. Skeete has shared her musical skills in teaching young students to play the piano.

Ms. Skeete is currently the Assistant Secretary/Treasurer of the Sharon Women’s Fellowship, an organisation which owes much to her leadership and strength of character.

Ms. Skeete has always had a deep love and abiding interest in the education and welfare of our youth and seeks to befriend even the “unloved”.

In May 1997, Ms. Skeete was made a Justice of the Peace and in January 2001 the award of the Barbados Centennial Honour was conferred on her.

The award of BARBADOS SERVICE MEDAL is being made in recognition of her outstanding contribution to education, the Church and the community.

***

MRS. MONICA EUREKA WILLIAMS, BSM. When one follows the career path of Monica Williams, there is a clear reference to the many opportunities through which she was able to offer advice and counsel to those persons with whom she came into contact.

She received her early education at St. Matthias Girls’ School and the Federal High School and it was during her tenure at the secondary level that she discovered her first love which was nursing. Immediately after leaving school, she pursued studies in Nursing and Health Care at the Barbados Red Cross. At the completion of her studies, she worked at Newham Nursing Home, Barbados.

The closure of the home provided an opportunity to excel in studies in the hospitality industry with special reference to Housekeeping. She successfully attained certificates in Hospitality Management and gained employment at Sandy Beach Hotel where she worked as Housekeeper.

Additional certificates in Human Resource Management, Supervisory and Middle Management from the Barbados Institute of Management and Productivity (BIMAP) provided her with the prerequisite skills to perform the role as Executive Housekeeper at Heywoods Hotel where she worked for 10 years and Bresmay Hotel for a period of four months.

This impressive career pattern and her outstanding service to the hospitality sector, so impressed the officials at the Prime Minister’s Office, that upon application, she was offered the job as Housekeeper at Ilaro Court, a job which she has held for the past twelve years.

She is a devoted member of Dalkeith Methodist Church. She was married to the late George Williams and that union produced six children, including two sets of twins. They are Edward, Antoinette, Antoine, Beverley, Harriet and Heather.

Monica Williams, advisor and counselor by name and nature; a proud recipient of the Barbados Service Medal.