Governor General Sir Elliott Belgrave said it was one of the most honoured investitures he had carried out after presenting the insignia of Dame Commander of the British Empire to Dame Maizie Barker-Welch at Government House yesterday.
“You deserve this honour. You have worked hard,” Sir Elliott told Dame Maizie as he congratulated the octogenarian, a former teacher, Member of Parliament, Parliamentary Secretary and “fearless advocate for the rights of women”.
Awarded the Barbados Centennial Order in 2000 and the Companion of Honour of Barbados in 2008, Dame Maizie was appointed Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the New year Honours List 2014, for services to the national, regional and international advocation for the rights of women.
Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, Lady Belgrave and members of the Dame’s family, including sons Peter and Dr Pedro Welch, and daughters Sonja Welch and Yolande Phillips, attended the investiture.
(GC)
