DO NOT MAKE the mistake of referring to Governor General Sir Elliott Belgrave as the Queen of England’s “eyes and ears”.
Sir Elliott set the record straight during his latest school visit to A. Dacosta Edwards Primary School in Belleplaine, St Andrew. He said while he was Queen Elizabeth’s representative in Barbados, he was not merely an extension of the British monarch.
“Someone said that I was the Queen’s representative and I am her eyes and ears. I am indeed the Queen’s representative but I am not her eyes and ears – I just do in Barbados what she would have done had she been resident in Barbados,” he said.
Sir Elliott made it clear Barbados was an independent country and only certain information was actually passed to the British monarchy.
“The Government and [Prime Minister] the Right Honourable Freundel Stuart is responsible for running Barbados. Barbados is not run by England – that used to be the case in the colonial days [but no more].
“If anything is going wrong in Barbados that I know about, I first let the Prime Minister know but not the Queen unless I think it is wise for her to know. If we are going to have elections, I let her know . . . if the Government wants to appoint knights, we have to get her permission and all the bills that are passed in the House of Assembly, I sign them on behalf of the Queen but I am not her ears and eyes so get that clear,” he said.
During his visit Sir Elliott was treated to poems, songs and skits performed by the children. (CA)