Combermere honours Bostic with carriageway 

Lieutenant Colonel the Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic was honoured by his alma mater, the Combermere School, for his outstanding achievement of being named the island’s second President.

In a ceremony at the Waterford, St Michael school on Friday, the Jeffrey Bostic Carriageway, which serves as the school’s main entrance and exit, was officially unveiled in what school officials described as a proud and historic moment.

Deputy principal Timothy Barrett, said Combermere had a long tradition of recognising those who have “served us well” and “achieved excellence”. 

He reminded the audience that the school’s grounds already bear names such as the Frank Worrell Playing Field, Jack Adams Playing Field, Drax Square, Major Noot Hall and Jebodhsingh Weather Station.

In his official welcome, principal Robin Douglas said the decision to name the carriageway after Bostic was deeply symbolic. 

He explained that the entrance and exit of the school represent the journey students take from their first days in the lower forms to life beyond Combermere. 

Connecting that symbolism to a phrase often used by the President himself, Douglas said the location reflected the idea of “from humble beginnings”.

“When students enter this gate in the first form, they begin a journey that begins their part of the continuing story of the legacy of Combermere School,” he said, adding that the school’s impact has been “persistent and unshakable” across Barbados and beyond. 

He described the daily act of entering and leaving the compound as a “poetic comparison” to the lifelong journey of Combermerians, noting that “ever a Combermerian” is more than a motto. 

Executive Director of the Regional Security System, Errington Shurland told the gathering they were assembled to “celebrate, honour and recognise” an alumnus who had risen to the highest office in the nation, bringing distinction not only to himself but also to Combermere.

He noted that President Bostic was elected on October 7, 2025 and inaugurated on November 30, 2025, which coincided with the school’s 330th anniversary. Calling that timing “cause for an additional celebration”, he traced the President’s journey from his entry into Combermere on September 9, 1971 at age 10, through academic success and wide-ranging extracurricular involvement, including cadets, hockey, table tennis and football.

According to Shurland, it was the cadet programme that had the greatest impact on Bostic’s life, laying the foundation for values of “selfless service, integrity, duty, honour and loyalty”. He said that influence was later reflected in remarks made by Bostic at his installation ceremony, where he spoke of Combermere as a place “where horizons were expanded and leadership was shaped”, and acknowledged mentors who played key roles in his development.

The citation detailed Bostic’s further education and training, including at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus and the Inter-American Defense College in Washington, DC, and outlined a career that saw him serve in senior roles within the Barbados Defence Force, the Regional Security System and diplomatic postings abroad. 

Shurland also pointed to his national service beyond the military, including his tenure in the House of Assembly and his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, recalling the enduring rallying cry of “No retreat, nor surrender”.

He described the dedication of the carriageway as a “tangible way” of saluting that lifetime of service and an example for young Combermerians to follow. Quoting poetry to underscore the message, he reminded students that “the heights of great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight”