Tribute to Norma Holder

A tribute to Mrs Norma Holder G.C.M. by Opposition Leader, Mia Mottley.

TODAY WE LEARNT of the passing of one of our most notable educators in post-Independence Barbados.

Permit me first to thank God for the life of Mrs Norma Holder G.C.M. whom I had the honour of knowing from my early childhood.

She was a Lady. Dignified, gracious but ever humble. Devoted to duty and compassionate to the end. Jamaican by birth, Barbadian by choice. She like many other Caribbean citizens of her time came to this country and committed unreservedly to the building of a young nation. Indeed, Mrs Holder can be described as a true Barbadian Nation Builder.

Whether in her chosen training as a chemist, in her latter career as an educational administrator, pursuing her passion as a classically trained and accomplished pianist and organist or in her role as Chairman of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, she gave of herself always – and with grace.

I can speak first hand of her tenure as Principal of the Barbados Community College while I was Minister of Education for 7 years. I truly valued her wise counsel and her leadership of a complex institution.

Mrs Holder, the first female Principal, presided over the almost trebling of the enrolment of our sole Community College when requested to expand the institution.

She crafted and shepherded into existence both the expansion of the Hospitality Institute and the Pom Marine Hotel at its present site in Marine Gardens and, thereafter, the Barbados Language Centre. She introduced Associate Degrees in all of the disciplines then offered by the College, and added new areas to meet our wider development needs as a nation, for example, physical education.

When I issued the challenge to start offering full Degree Programmes she readily embraced and implemented the Bachelor of Fine Arts and the Bachelor Performing Arts within 6 months. Mrs Holder also created opportunities for thousands of Barbadians to attend evening classes to attain Diplomas in a multiplicity of disciplines.

Her lasting legacy, however, for me as Principal was in her championing of the Accreditation and Articulation Agreements nationally, regionally and internationally.

Mrs Holder ensured that those who read for Associate Degrees as well as Bachelor Degrees at the BCC would find currency in both their trek to further education and the market place.

Moreso, her leadership in this area meant that thousands of parents have saved tremendously by their children’s ability to be exempted from 1 year of study once they went on to further their education, either in the region or North America.

These achievements were mirrored across the Caribbean during her long and distinguished tenure as President of the Association of Caribbean Tertiary Institutions (ACTI). Hers was a voice that commanded respect across the region.

Aunty Norma did all of this and more, for I am only speaking from memory, while being a  devoted wife and mother and doting grandmother. 

On behalf of the Barbados Labour Party and on behalf of my own family, I should like to extend condolences to her husband Jean, her daughters Janet and Caroline, her grandchildren and her entire family circle. 

May their memory of her life and her grace ease the pain of their loss. 

Barbados shall truly miss her.