Likely last of Queen’s Birthday honourees invested

After a delay owing to COVID-19 restrictions, four outstanding Barbadians on the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours list received their insignias Friday in possibly one of the last such investitures at Government House while Barbados remains a Commonwealth realm.

One of the honourees, Dr Wendy Griffith-Watson died last May.

With friends and families in attendance, the prominent citizens received their awards from Governor General Dame Sandra Mason who thanked them all for their service on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Barbados.

The government has signalled that Barbados intends to become a republic by Independence Day, severing the final link to the Crown which would replace the governor-general with a president.

Recipient of the Commander of the Order of the British Empire, long-time executive director of the Barbados Family Planning Association George Spencer Griffith CBE was recognised for services in the fields of social work and reproductive health.

Executive secretary to prime ministers, Shirley Aileen King OBE, who last served in the Owen Arthur administration was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for contributions to public services.

A veteran member of the Barbados Cricket Association, Winston Walter Stafford OBE, received his insignia in recognition of his services to social work and cricket administration.

Invested as a Member of the Order of the British Empire, Rodney Dacourtney Prescod MBE was awarded for services to secondary school education.

The family of Dr Wendy Marlene Griffith-Watson CBE, the first female chief education officer, is to receive the posthumous award at a later date.

Griffth, who also served as Consul General for Barbados in New York and Chairman of the National HIV/AIDS Prevention Committee, told reporters he was humbled by the award, but stressed that his service in support of his fellow Barbadians “never felt like work” but instead he saw it as the right thing to do.

Even with the many achievements he has had in his career, Griffith, 72, still continues to work daily, with his more recent role –  assisting the National Community Elder Care Programme.

He said: “The intention really for that programme is to assist seniors in their own homes and to try to keep them living in their own homes for as long as possible, it will improve their quality of life. It will also reduce the number of persons who have to be committed to government-run institutions and private senior citizens homes because with that assistance, they can function for a longer period of time with social stimulation.

“We have now over 504 enrolled into the programme, and I am projecting that by the end of the year we should have about 800.”

Stafford committed most of his life towards social work and cricketing interests. For many years he facilitated young local players on the island being given the opportunity to test their talents over in England. He said that though he did do a lot in his life, from social work to politics, it’s the support and sacrifice of his family that got him up to this point.

“I think it reflects the suffering that my family has had to endure over the years, to permit me to participate in the various civic activities that I have been participating in over the years. To me its recognition to be quite frank… it’s more for my family, than me,” he said.

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is one of the last imperial orders of chivalry to which Barbados subscribes, alongside its homegrown national honours list.

Established in June 1917 by King George, the honours rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, charitable and welfare organisations and public service outside the civil service. The most senior class of the honours, made in the New Year and on the Queen’s official birthday on June 12, makes the recipient either a knight or dame of the British Empire.

It is followed by the Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE) and Member (MBE) of the order. (SB)