Electricity around Barbados went off yesterday afternoon for hours, but the pomp and ceremony went on like clockwork as Dame Sandra Mason was installed as Barbados’ eighth Governor General.
In the presence of Members of Parliament, members of the Senate, the judiciary, the diplomatic corps, family and friends, the 68-year-old former Justice of Appeal took the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Office for the execution of the office of Governor General, administered by Chief Justice Sir Marston Gibson in the Senate Chamber.
In her address, Dame Sandra acknowledged the “challenging period” Barbados was facing, but said it opened up opportunities “to devise and implement major legislative, regulatory, fiscal and operational reforms.
“How we emerge will hinge on our ability to regroup and draw on our collective strengths as a people to ensure that we are able to march proudly and gallantly into the future,” said the Governor General, who described herself as “an ordinary person who has been blessed with extraordinary opportunities and experiences”.
Applause outside the Senate Chamber at 4 p.m. sharp signalled her arrival in Heroes Square, attended by her aide-de-camp Major Julia DaBreo and escorted by the Mounted Branch of the Royal Barbados Police Force.
For the historic occasion, Dame Sandra chose an elegant, partly beaded, blue three-piece skirt suit, topped off with a matching blue and pale yellow hat, accessorised with snakeskin shoes and handbag in complementary colours.
Alighting from the official vehicle, she was received at the saluting dais by Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force, Colonel Glyne Grannum, and Deputy Commissioner of Police Oral Williams, before mounting the dais to be accorded a royal salute.
In the courtyard of Parliament Buildings, visiting Governor General of St Kitts and Nevis, Sir Tapley Seaton, joined the Chief Justice, Cabinet members and their spouses, former Governor General Sir Elliott Belgrave and Lady Belgrave, and other prominent figures representing Parliament, the judiciary, the church, Civil Service and the diplomatic corps, waiting to be presented at that time to the Governor General-designate.
Dame Sandra’s sister Valmai and brothers Maurice, Lionel, Ken and Davie, broke out in wide smiles, spontaneously returned by their sister when she finally entered the Senate Chamber escorted by the sergeant-at-arms. There was a special effusion of love in the smile she flashed in the direction of her son Matthew, who sat at the back of the Chamber along with other members of the family.
Former Prime Ministers Sir Lloyd Sandiford with Lady Sandiford, and Owen Arthur, now an Independent MP, sat up front, along with Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, Opposition Leader Mia Mottley, Government and Opposition members and members of the diplomatic corps.
Dame Sandra was accorded a 21-gun salute after taking the Oath of Office, and later inspected a guard of honour made up of members of the Barbados Defence Force in Heroes Square, before being driven off to Government House for a two-hour reception. (GC)
