KNIGHT OF ST.

ANDREW
For extraordinary and outstanding achievement and merit in service to Barbados or to
humanity at large.
PROFESSOR EMERITUS HENRY STUART FRASER, K.A., GCM, BSc, (Physiology, London
U.) MBBS (UWI), PhD (Pharmacology, London U), FACP, FRCP, was born at Spooners in
St. John on 25th June, 1944 to Robert and Lorraine Fraser. He entered the Lodge School at age 8,
where he won a Barbados Scholarship in 1962. He proceeded to the University of the West Indies in
Jamaica to study medicine, was selected for a B.Sc. in Physiology at University College London, and
completed his MBBS back at the UWI. He did his internship at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where
he met his wife, Dr. Maureen Skeete, on his first day of work in 1969. His specialty training in
internal medicine and research began in Jamaica with Sir George Alleyne, and was completed in
London, with a PhD in Pharmacology at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School.
He returned home in 1977 as Lecturer in Medicine at the UWI, Cave Hill and Consultant Physician at
the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, and was promoted to Professor of Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology
in 1990. He established a Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory and Drug Monitoring Service at the
hospital, the first in the CARICOM region, and a Hypertension Clinic, with the first Caribbean
programme for Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring. He was a foundation member of the National
Formulary Committee and the Caribbean Drug Testing Laboratory; a member of the World Health
Organisations Expert Committee for Essential Drugs, the International Union of Clinical
Pharmacology Committee and other international and regional committees; and he was the first
Coordinator of Continuing Medical Education for Barbados and the OECS, from 1979 to 1990.
He established the Chronic Disease Research Centre in 1992, serving as Foundation Director until
2005. He was appointed Dean of the School of Clinical Medicine and Research in 2001, University
Dean in 2005, and commissioned to lead the expansion to a full Faculty of Medical Sciences, which
welcomed its first students in 2008. He retired in 2010, after 33 years of service to the University and
the QEH. He has published more than 100 medical and scientific papers in peer reviewed journals, on
therapeutics, high blood pressure, obesity, the elderly, and other topics, served as editor of the local
Medical Association journal and as Chairman of the West Indian Medical Journal, and as Chairman of
the Scientific Advisory Committee of CAREC, the Caribbean Regional Epidemiology Centre. He has
been Public Orator for the Cave Hill Campus for 18 years and National Public Orator for 15 years.
Professor Fraser has had alternative careers in art, architectural history and heritage preservation,
tourism and public speaking. He served as President of The Barbados National Trust, (1989 1994)
& Council Member for 32 years, as member of the National Art Gallery Committee and the National
Town and Country Planning Advisory Committee; Chairman of the Barbados Tourism Advisory
Council, the Task Force for the Nomination of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison as a UNESCO
World Heritage site, the Barbados National Trust Sentinel Committee, the Barbados National Trust
Tyrol Cot Committee, Coordinator and Chairman, Conference of Caribbean National Trusts, in
Barbados in May, 2014; Chairman of the Barbados National Task Force for the Preservation of
Barbadoss Built Heritage and the Preservation (Barbados) Foundation Trust.
Other publications include some 15 books, on architecture and heritage, for the UWI Press,
Macmillan, and Miller Publishing, including Island in the Sun: The Story of Tourism in Barbados,
and the new Historic Churches of Barbados; some 450 newspaper columns, with the ongoing Sunday
Advocate column Things that matter; and more than 25 films for CBC-TV, including three major
series: Treasures of Barbados, Pillars of Worship and Parliament 375. He is an award winning artist,
exhibiting paintings in Britain, Jamaica and Barbados, receiving two Jamaican National Awards in
1972.

He has received many other awards, including the UWIs Pelican Award, Paul Harris Fellow of
Rotary International and the Gold Crown of Merit in the Barbados Honours of 1992. He was
appointed an Independent Senator in April, 2012.
He is married to Dr. Maureen Skeete Fraser (retired dermatologist) and has one son Robert (engineer)
and three grandchildren.
The Accolade of KNIGHT OF ST. ANDREW is being conferred in recognition of his outstanding
contribution to the medical profession and representation of Barbadian Culture, especially in the form
of the architectural history of Barbados.
****

GOLD CROWN OF MERIT

For highly meritorious service or achievement in science, the arts, literature, sports, civic duties
or any other endeavor worthy of national recognition.
DR. LAWRENCE BLAIR BANNISTER, GCM, MBBS, DCH, was born in Barbados on June 15,
1923. He entered Harrison College on a first grade scholarship in 1935 and graduated in 1943 with
Advanced levels in Classics. He then proceeded to study ancient history, literature and philosophy at
Codrington College from which he obtained a Bachelor of Arts honours degree in 1946. After a brief
stint of teaching at Harrison College, Combermere and Parry School, he went on to study Medicine at
UWI (UC WI, Mona). In November 1955 he graduated with the MBBS degree as a member of their
second graduating class.
On his return to Barbados he worked first as a Casualty Officer at the Barbados General Hospital and
after doing intermittent stints at the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital he served as Parochial Medical
Officer of St Andrew for many years. In 1961 he obtained a Fellowship to study Paediatrics at Great
Ormond Street Hospital in London and thereafter proceeded to Glasgow where he obtained the
Diploma in Child Health (DCH). He subsequently established a large family practice in Perry Gap
during which time he also served as Medical Officer for the offices of the Royal Barbados Police
Force, the Prisons and Fire Service Department.
Soon after his return to Barbados, he noticed the amount of discarded metal garbage that was strewn
around the island, and armed with knowledge of anatomy and a pioneering spirit he decided to collect
this and use this material to start a new hobby of iron art and sculpture.
He created The Iron Gardens, a collection of large pieces which he sculpted and displayed in the
gardens of his home in Perry Gap which has now been made a heritage site. Through his art and
sculpture he not only made use of discarded material, but introduced to Barbados the concept of
recycling and reuse. His exhibits have become quite famous. Some were featured at Colin Hudson's
Village of Hope at the UN Climate Conference on Small Island Developing States in 1994 held at the
Barbados Community College where each piece was designed to give a message of hope. The Iron
Gardens' horses were exhibited at the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts competition at
the National Cultural Foundation and received two gold medal awards. One of these horses is
presently on loan to the UTech University at Papine in Jamaica.
Included among his exhibits at The Iron Gardens are the Ferris wheel, a Museum of Old Barbados and
the Rotating Football. The man on the donkey cart graced the roundabout at Jackson for some time.
The gardens have attracted thousands of visitors, many of them children at summer camps, or tourists
who had seen his web page. Exhibits have been transported to fairs in Holetown, Queen's Park and
Spring Garden where they have been a focus of great interest.
2

In addition to his sculpture, Dr. Bannister has made a significant contribution to Barbadian literature.
Talking Tree is a genealogical and autobiographical expose of the author's extended Jordan family.
This book won the Prime Minister's Award at the 2009 Frank Collymore Literary Awards. Moonlight
Songs of Barbados is a collection of children's songs and rhymes from the 1920s. He also competed in
the NIFCA Literary Arts competition in 2011 with a poem Dream at Graeme Hall, for which he won
the gold medal. He also won a silver medal and an environmental award for his poem Who Killed
King Sugar. His poetry readings have taken him to Fokestone, Gun Hill and to many family birthday
and other social gatherings.
In view of these literary and visual arts successes the National Cultural Foundation recently
commissioned the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation to film a documentary on his work.
The award of Gold Crown of Merit is given in recognition of his outstanding contribution to
medicine, Barbadian literature and art.
****
DR. FARLEY SILVAN BRATHWAITE, GCM, Ph.D., M.A., B.Sc., R.M.N., R.N.M.S. was born on
19th March, 1945 to Milton Brathwaite and Ophelia Brathwaite {nee Pilgrim} in Penny Hole, now
known as Gemswick in St. Philip. He spent his early life {1946-1957} in Fair View, Christ Church
where he lived with his paternal aunt Mabel Brathwaite- Cooke after his mother died. He received his
primary schooling at St. Patrick's Boys School {1949-1957, and entered Christ Church Boys
Foundation School in 1957.
In September 1963, he migrated to the UK where he trained as a Psychiatric Nurse at the Stone House
and Darenth Park Hospitals, in Dartford, Kent and obtained the General Nursing Council of England
and
Wales
R.M.N
and
R.N.M.S
Certificates
in
June
1967.
During
this same period he attended the North West Kent College of Technology in Dartford, Kent as a part
time student, completing his 'A' level certificates. He entered the University of London Goldsmith's
College in 1967 and completed the B.Sc. Sociology Degree in 1970. He immediately entered the
University of Essex and completed the M.A. Sociology Degree in 1972.
He returned to the Caribbean in April 1973 and took up a post as lecturer in Sociology at the School
of Education at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago. In
1976 he entered the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the USA and completed his PhD
Sociology Degree in 1979. Thereafter, Dr. Brathwaite returned to Barbados and joined the Faculty of
Social Sciences at Cave Hill in July 1979. For the next 25 years he dedicated himself as lecturer,
social researcher, and administrator at the Cave Hill Campus to the development of his discipline, the
social sciences, the university and higher education. He also committed himself to using his
professional knowledge, training and skills whenever and wherever possible in the service of the
Barbadian and wider Caribbean public.
As a lecturer he taught a wide range of sociology courses in order to give students greater choice and
exposure to the discipline. He played a major role in developing the BSc. and M. Phil. Sociology
Degrees. Eventually he developed a specialized interest in social problems and social policy in the
Caribbean; a reflection in part of his social justice philosophy and these became the main areas of his
teaching and research.
As a social researcher he has authored, co-authored or edited six books, a number of Journal articles
and book chapters, special reports and academic conference papers. He has also successfully
supervised MPhil and Ph.D. research students. The majority of his academic output has focused on
issues such as social inequality, poverty, and socially disadvantaged and excluded groups including
the unemployed, the elderly, and victims of crime, youth and children.

As an administrator, Dr. Brathwaite has served as Head of the Department of Government and
Sociology and Social work, Vice Dean, and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Cave Hill, and
University Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences. He was also active in the University Trade Union
and was President of WIGUT at both the St. Augustine and Cave Hill campuses.
Dr. Brathwaite has an impressive record of service to the wider community in which he sought to use
his sociological skills in the interest of social development. As a social analyst and consultant he
worked with the Governments of Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago on a number of social
policy related issues. He has worked with regional and international institutions including the CDB,
the CXC, PAHO, RHUDO, ECLAC and UNICEF. He also worked with a number of local
organizations including the NAB, which he served as Chairman, NHC and PAREDOs, BARP in its
formative years, NUPW, BWU and scores of social, community, political and professional groups.
Dr. Brathwaite is one of the pioneers in public opinion polling in Barbados and has offered services to
TV, Radio and the Print Media as an analyst and commentator on a range of social issues.
Dr. Brathwaite has four children Mark Callender, Lee Brathwaite, Dr. Diane Brathwaite and Nneka
Brathwaite. He is married to Dr. Angela Alleyne-Brathwaite. Finally, he thanks his family for their
support over the many years.
The award of GOLD CROWN OF MERIT is given in recognition for his significant contribution to
tertiary education in Barbados.
****
MR. BENTLEY GIBBS, GCM, was born in Barbados on 25 July 1948 to Elton and Germay Gibbs
and received his primary education at the Speighstown Boys, and his secondary education at
Coleridge and Parry and Combermere.
He entered the University of the West Indies in 1968 where he subsequently obtained an Upper
Second Class Honours Bachelor Degree in Economics and History and a Diploma in Project
Management. Between 1972 and 1977, Mr. Gibbs taught at secondary schools in Barbados and
Guyana.
On his return to Barbados from Guyana, he joined the Institute of Social and Economic Research,
Cave Hill Campus, as a Junior Research Fellow for one year before entering the public service in
1978 where he gave approximately 36 years of service as Senior Project Analyst, Senior
Administrative Officer, Chief Economist, the first Director of Foreign Trade and Permanent
Secretary.
During those years, Mr. Gibbs has made an invaluable contribution to Barbados through helping to
define and execute its trade and economic development agenda. He was actively engaged in
Barbados founding membership of the World Trade Organisation; its participation in advancing
regional integration and its extension of bilateral trade and economic cooperation with countries
outside the region. As Permanent Secretary of the Division of Economic Affairs, he managed the
preparation of Barbados first National Strategic Plan and was a founding member of its Journal of
Public Sector Policy Analysis the public sectors only academic journal.
Mr. Gibbs has been passionately committed to the mentoring and training of a cadre of young public
service professionals, driven by the desire and necessity of what he referred to as planting seeds of
excellence across the public sector.
Outside the public service sphere, Mr. Gibbs has maintained a very keen interest in the history of
Barbados and has produced a number of scholarly papers on its post-emancipation experience with

particular emphasis on the evolution and development of the plantation tenantry system and the
fortunes of the sugar industry.
Mr. Bentley Gibbs is married to Mrs. Hazel Gibbs and they are the parents of two children - Ayana
and Damany.
The award of Gold Crown of Merit is given in recognition of his meritorious public service.

****
MRS. LUCENE YVETTE WHARTON-ISAAC, GCM, was born on 10th April, 1950 at Josey Hill,
St. Lucy. Later that year she along with her family relocated to Thornbury Hill, Christ Church.
She started her education at the Christ Church Girls Primary School and having been awarded a
Vestry Scholarship, entered the Christ Church Girls Foundation School in September 1960. While
there she successfully wrote the Common Entrance Examination and completed her secondary
education in July 1967.
Mrs. Wharton-Isaac pursued her tertiary level education at the Barbados Community College, the
Mona Campus of the UWI where she undertook the Certificate Course in Public Administration
during 1979 -1980. In 1985, she graduated from the Cave Hill Campus, UWI, holding a Bachelor of
Science Degree in Public Administration with Second Class Honours (Lower Division). She also
attended the Institute of Public Service University of Connecticut, USA in 1988 where she
completed a course in Personnel Management. In 2002 she was awarded the Master of Business
Administration UWI, Cave Hill Campus and in 2010 the Diploma in Theological Studies from
Codrington College.
Mrs. Wharton-Isaac joined the Public Service as a temporary Clerical Officer on 4th September 1967
and was assigned to the Town and Country Planning Department where she spent ten months before
being permanently appointed to the post of Clerical Officer at the Ministry of Communications and
Works, now restyled the Ministry of Transport and Works, from 1st July 1968. She later gained
promotion in the same Ministry to the grade of Assistant Personnel Officer on 1st September 1972
before her appointment as Personnel Officer at the then Services Commission Department from
1st April 1978.
She advanced to the post of Senior Personnel Officer, Ministry of Health on 1st September 1984 and
while there acted on occasions as Hospital Manager, St. Michael District Hospital. With effect from
1st September 1985 she was appointed on transfer to the post of Administrative Officer, Ministry of
Education and Culture.
When the new post of Principal Personnel Officer at the Personnel Administration Division was
created, Mrs. Wharton-Isaac was the first holder of that post from 1st June 1987 and was subsequently
appointed to that same post from 1st April 1988 when it became established. While at the Personnel
Administration Division, she held numerous acting appointments at the level of Deputy Chief
Personnel Officer and Chief Personnel Officer, eventually being upgraded to the post of Deputy Chief
Personnel Officer on 1st January 1991.
On 10th October 1994, Mrs. Wharton-Isaac was transferred from the post of Deputy Chief Personnel
Officer to that of Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, International Transport and
the Environment until her reassignment at the same level to the Ministry of Health with effect from
18th September 1995. Subsequently she was transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs from
1st March 2001 and held numerous acting appointments in the office of Permanent Secretary in the
Ministries of Health, Tourism and International Transport, the Environment and National Resources
5

and Social Transformation before assuming an acting appointment, from 1st November 2002 as
Permanent Secretary, Office of the Attorney General where she remained until her promotion to that
grade with effect from 15th November 2003.
With effect from 1st April, 2004, she was transferred to the office of Permanent Secretary, Ministry of
Home Affairs prior to her current posting as Cabinet Secretary from 23rd September 2013.
During her attachments to the Ministries Education, Tourism and Home Affairs, she served as a
member of the Boards of Management at the St. Leonards Boys Secondary School, the Barbados
Tourism Authority and the National Council on Substance Abuse.
More recently on occasions she has performed the duties of Head of the Civil Service.
Mrs. Wharton-Isaac is a devoted member of the Christ Church Parish Church, is married to William
and has one daughter and one granddaughter.

The award of Gold Crown of Merit is given in recognition of her long and distinguished public
service.
****

SILVER CROWN OF MERIT

For meritorious service or achievement in science, the arts, literature, sports, civic duties or any
other endeavor worthy of national recognition.
DR. ELIZABETH MARY-ROSE FERDINAND, SCM, MB, BS, MPH was born in Guyana on the
12th February 1948 to Dr. James W.D. Ferdinand and Elizabeth Ferdinand and received her secondary
education at the Berbice High School in Guyana, the Sacred Heart Convent in Hertfordshire England
and the Tottenham Technical College in London, England. She then entered the University of the
West Indies Medical Faculty at Mona to read for her MB, BS which she obtained in 1973 with honors
in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She proceeded to the United Kingdom to do her internship at the
St. Mary's Hospital and the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital in London. The following year she
held several temporary posts in clinics in London before returning to the Caribbean in 1975.
Dr. Ferdinand was appointed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in 1976 where she served in the
Accident and Emergency Department, the Laboratory and the Paediatric Department. She was then
transferred to the National Nutrition Center where she assisted Sir Frank Ramsey with the treatment
and prevention of malnutrition in children. While there, she was also involved in the international
research work on the effects of malnutrition on brain development. It was during this time that she
developed her love for the specialty of Public Health. This led her to Harvard School of Public Health
in Boston USA on a scholarship from the Pan American Health Organization to study for the Masters
in Public Health which she obtained in 1980.
On her return to Barbados, she was appointed Medial Officer of Health and proceeded initially to be
in charge of Six Roads Polyclinic and then the Maurice Byer Polyclinic in St. Peter.
In 1985, she was promoted to Senior Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health, firstly in charge of the
environment and then primary health care. During her years of service, she has mentored medical
students, interns, junior doctors and other health professionals in the principles of public health. In
addition she has worked as Chief Medical Officer on numerous occasions.

She has been instrumental in having Barbados declared polio free and has submitted the
documentation and relevant information to the Regional Commission to have Barbados declared free
of measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome. She has led the team in the introduction of
several new vaccines to ensure that our nation, especially the children, are free from these vaccine
preventable diseases.
Her work in disaster management has prepared the Barbados Health Sector to be responsive to any
disaster. She was involved in the planning and implementation of the successful medical response at
the ICC 2007 Cricket World Cup, the 2010 ICC 20/20 Cricket World Cup, the Rihanna concert and
many other events. She led the medical team for mass crowd events especially those sponsored by the
Government. She has assisted other Caribbean Islands in the areas of immunization and disaster
management. She managed a 3-year Department for International Development (DFID) Project to
assist Montserrat with their health infrastructure following the eruption of the volcano.
She has served in various capacities outside of medicine. She is a founding member of the Breast
Screening Programme of the Barbados Cancer Society and has sat on numerous national committees,
ranging from International Year of the Family, Rights of the Child to the Committee on Older
Persons.
Dr. Ferdinand has received several awards from various organizations such as CDEMA, DEM, Rotary
Club (West), Junior Chamber (Bridgetown) and the Guyana Consulate.
She is the proud mother of a son and a daughter and the grand mother of three beautiful
granddaughters.

The award of SILVER CROWN OF MERIT is being made in recognition of her dedicated service
to the medical profession.
****
MR. VICTOR ANTHONY FERNANDES, SCM, is a BBC trained broadcaster with over forty years
experience in all facets of the radio and television industry. His career has spanned morning radio,
drive time radio, outside broadcasting, documentaries, production, sales, marketing, news and current
affairs.
In television he has anchored television news, outside broadcasts, special events, entertainment shows
and current affairs for 22 years.
At age 29 he was appointed to manage the radio station of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation
and a few years later took on the challenge of managing both radio and television. While at the
Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation Mr. Fernandes conceptualised and implemented what was then
the Number One Radio Station in Barbados, Liberty 98.1 FM. He also had responsibility for the
implementation of what was at the time the only local cable television network system in Barbados.
In 1987 he joined what was then Barbados Rediffusion Service Ltd, became Managing Director,
created three new radio stations and introduced DIRECTV to Barbados. He repositioned the company
and rebranded it as STARCOM Network Inc. Part of that repositioning included the closure of Star
Radio Cable.
During his tenure at STARCOM Network Inc. the company moved from a dismal financial position to
one of sustained growth and stability.

In 2006 the Nation Corporation merged with CCN Trinidad to create the Caribbean's largest media
company, One Caribbean Media Ltd, (OCM) and he was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the
One Caribbean Media Network.
In 2007 he created the first Pan Caribbean Network - OCM Network, operating and managing stations
in seven different countries. In the process he created the first Pan Caribbean radio station the
Caribbean Super Station (CSS).
He is the longest serving president of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), the umbrella
organisation for all radio and television stations in the Caribbean including the Dutch and French
countries and Cuba. He was elected unopposed for 20 years. He was the first chairman of the
Caribbean Media Corporation, (CMC) the commercial arm of the CBU. In August 2004 he was
inducted into the Caribbean Broadcasting Union's Hall of Fame.
Mr. Fernandes is currently a director in Barbados Today and the Bayview Hospital. He was also a
UNESCO consultant on broadcasting in the Caribbean during the period 1991/92 and a member of the
Committee of Experts of the UN agency, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) from 1995
to 2013.
He served as Chairman of the state owned Barbados Tourism Investment Corporation from 1994 until
its closure in 2000. It was also his vision to redevelop a bankrupt Golf Course which was part of the
portfolio of the Barbados Tourism Investment Corporation. Today the course is a success and remains
Barbados' only public golf course. He is still the Chairman of this company. Currently he writes,
produces and presents the most popular radio show in Barbados the Market Vendor and writes a
column for Barbados Today Newspaper.
In the area of community services he has been a Rotarian since 1985 and was President in the year
2000. In 2004 he was made a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club.
In September 2004 he conceptualized a Radiothon called "Help Grenada". This effort raised over
BDS$1.3M for the people of Grenada following the passage of Hurricane Ivan. He was also involved
in a similar exercise in 2012 when the earthquake devastated Haiti raising BDS$1.2 M which was put
into a Haiti relief fund run by the parent company, OCM.
He is married to Ferida and he is the father of four children, three girls, Anja Alana and Rebecca and
one son Robert.
The award of SILVER CROWN OF MERIT is been made in recognition of the invaluable
contribution made over the last forty years in the radio and television industry.
****
MRS. ROSEMARY BETTY HOPE-GITTENS, SCM, was born on March 5, 1939 and was educated
at Queens College, and attracted public attention when, as an eighteen year old, she was crowned
Miss Barbados which would be the beginning of her career of many Firsts. She immigrated to
Canada in 1959 and found herself in Ottawa where she promptly became Miss Ottawa Employee.
Having joined Personnel Pool in 1962, she developed such an interest, expertise and reputation in the
placement industry that by 1971, she had become Vice President, responsible for Sales Training and
Public Relations.
Locally, her ability to liaise effectively with government departments won her the Presidency of the
Ottawa Chapter of the Canadian Association of Temporary Employment Services as well as that of
the Independent Offices Services Institute. At the international level, she became an Honorary Fellow
8

of the British Institute of Employment Consultants in 1975 and by 1977, was elected President of the
American-based Independent Office Services Institute. Another Presidency followed, this time of
Bradson Personnel Services and her peers accorded her the highest honour when they named her
Ottawa Businesswoman of the year in 1982.
Branching out on her own in the following year, Mrs. Betty Hope-Gittens established her firm OCIP
Travel and Ottawa Convention and Incentive Planners. She added R. Betty Gittens Consultants in
1987. In this capacity, she has travelled the world making presentations on Leadership, Team Work
and Time Management. For years now, Philanthropy has been one of her passions. Since 1987, she
has used her time and talents in support of the Canadian Chapter of Help the Aged, an organization
which provides needed care for the elderly and destitute in Canada and developing countries like
Ethiopia. She has been equally eager to contribute to Barbados, offering her skills especially in the
tourism industry.
Her extensive volunteer work has been recognized by a commemorative 125th Anniversary Medal
from the Government of Canada , a feature in Dare to Dream, a celebration of Canadian Women in
2000 and her inspiring story has appeared in the 2009 edition of the Magazine 55 +.
The award of SILVER CROWN OF MERIT is for her contribution to the promotion of Barbados in
Canada.
****
MISS UNDENE PAMELIA WHITTAKER, SCM, J.P., was born on the 17th July, 1951. Educated at
the Carringtons Primary School and the then St. Michael Girls School, she entered the Teaching
Service at 17 years of age, and went on to a career which spanned 34 years all at the Springer
Memorial Secondary School.
During her tenure as a teacher, she became involved in the 4-H Movement and the Trade Union
movement, from as far back as 1980. She went on to serve as Shop Steward, Vice President, General
Secretary, and President of the Barbados Union of Teachers.
She also held the post of General Secretary of the Congress of the Trade Unions and Staff
Associations of Barbados. In addition she was involved with the Credit Union movement, and sat on
the Board of Directors of the Barbados Teachers Co-operative Credit Union Ltd.
At the regional level, Miss Whittaker performed duties as the Second Vice President of the Caribbean
Union of Teachers and also held the position of Secretary of the Status of Women Committee a
United Nations supported institution. At the international level, she has been the sole representative of
the Caribbean on the Committee-Red Sepa- Society for the Education of the Americas.
During the 1990s, she founded the St. Michael South- East Craft Guild-an institution which taught
income-generating skills to the women residing the Pinelands and surrounding communities.
Presently, she holds the office of Governments Advisor on Poverty Eradication and the Millennium
Development Goals. In her efforts to tackle the scourge of poverty, she works with the youth and
women and has implemented the Youth in Agriculture Programme, where young people between the
ages of 17-35 are taught agricultural and life skills, and are mentored by professionals.
Miss Whittaker is the Technical Advisor to the Women Entrepreneurs of Barbados, a group that
produces quality indigenous craft. She ensures that the quality product is exhibited and marketed
locally, regionally and internationally. Cognizant of the need for economic security for women, she
has recently established the Women Entrepreneurs Co-operative Society Ltd which was launched in
9

August 2014. She also works with the Loving Arms Organization- a community group which seeks
to achieve the first of the Millennium Development Goals- that of eradicating poverty.
She was the Co-ordinator of the group- Concerned Citizens- which was instrumental in the closure of
the Louis Lynch Secondary School, in her fight for the health and safety of the students and teachers.
The award of SILVER CROWN OF MERIT is for her sterling contribution to the community in
particular advancing females socially, educationally and financially.

1.

****

BARBADOS SERVICE STAR

For meritorious work in the civil, fire, military, police, prison or other protective services or any
other similar field of endeavor.
MRS. EULINE GERALDINE BURROWES, BSS, was born in Barbados on the 20th January 1917 to
Joseph and Estelle Richards and received her secondary education at the Grassfield School having
won a scholarship. She later pursued training in nursing in the late 1930's at the Tercentenary Nursing
School, in Bay Street, St. Michael.
On completion of her training, she was transferred to the General Hospital to practice as a Nurse and
Midwife.
Nurse Richards as she was affectionately called rendered her services as a nurse at many other
institutions throughout the island. She performed her duties at St. Thomas, St. Andrew and St. George
Almshouses which are today known as Geriatric Hospitals.
In addition, she was instrumental in training many other young nurses some of whom migrated to
England, USA and Canada when there was a demand for Caribbean nurses.
As a community person, she assisted many persons at her house who sought minor medical care.
Needless to say she made many house call visits to prominent persons with various illnesses in the
St. George area upon their request. Today, there are persons in the community who still remember her
sterling contribution either by delivering a baby or driving them in her car to Dr. Reader's office or
the Almshouse during an emergency.
Mrs. Richards was married to Lawrence Burrowes a former Pan Boiler at Bulkeley Factory who died
in 1990.
She now resides at the Faydawn Nursing Home, Rowans Park, St. George and is ably assisted by her
adopted daughter Margaret Eastmond.
The award of BARBADOS SERVICE STAR is given in recognition of her contribution to the
nursing profession.
****

10

MR. DENNIS LEOPOLD CLARKE, BSS, MA., BSc., was born in Barbados on 30th October, 1947
to Lawrence and Louise Clarke and received his primary education at the St. Luke's Boys School, his
secondary education at Princess Margaret Comprehensive School and Christ Church High School,
Barbados where he was Head Boy during his last two years at school.
Mr. Clarke later entered the State University of New York, Empire State College,
United States of America where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Labour Management
Relations in 1983. In 1982 he received a Certificate in Industrial Relations from Cornell University.
Mr. Clarke also attended Rutgers University, USA where he obtained the MA in Labour Studies in
1985.
On his return to Barbados in 1985, he was promoted to the post of Assistant General Secretary at the
National Union of Public Workers. He became a specialist in workers' education and grievance
handling.
In addition he has trained many shop stewards in grievance handling, techniques of organizing and
collective bargaining.
He was promoted to the post of Deputy General Secretary and eventually General
Secretary. He has led several bargaining teams and has worked closely with the
Ministry of the Civil Service as labour representative in the Job Evaluation Exercise and the Public
Sector Reform.
Mr. Clarke is a leading chorister at the St. Luke Anglican Church and has held the
position of Church Warden over the years in addition to being a member of the Church's Outreach
Committee.
Mr. Dennis Clarke is married to Beverley Clarke and they are the proud parents of two children, baby
(deceased) and Stefan Clarke. Mr. Clarke is also the proud father of Nicole Clarke from a previous
marriage.
The award of BARBADOS SERVICE STAR is being made for his contribution to the development
of the Trade Union movement in Barbados.
****
JACK MARTIN ALBERT HOAD, BSS, was born in Barbados on 16th May, 1933 to John Julian
Seibert Hoad and Olga Hoad (nee Toppin) and received his secondary education at Harrison College
and The Barbados Academy.
On leaving school, he joined H. Jason Jones and Company Limited and retired in 1993, having served
for over forty years. Mr. Hoad was a pioneer in the manufacture of quality building products in
Barbados and, to this day, his windows and doors feature in homes, hotels and commercial buildings,
including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. He now holds the position of Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the parent company, Kensington Court Limited.
Mr. Hoad has rendered outstanding service to Barbados in the field of sport, and especially yachting.
Under the tutelage of his father, he started sailing at the age of five and skippered his first race at nine
years old, in a locally built sailing, fishing boat. Over the next seventy five plus years, Mr. Hoad
helmed a wide spectrum of boats, from dinghies to 'round the world' racers, winning numerous
prestigious regattas. Racing the Fireball dinghy, in Barbados, he holds the record of fifty-two
consecutive wins and was undefeated in the GP14 dinghy, in numerous Grenada Easter Regattas. In
1986, Mr. Hoad skippered the Beneteau First Class 10 "Blazin" to victory, in the Petit St. Vincent
Regatta and, in 1988, won Racing Class in the prestigious Antigua Sailing Week Regatta. With
11

Mr. Hoad at the helm, this yacht dominated the Caribbean racing scene for more than a decade,
including winning several Barbados Mount Gay Regattas and Tobago Race Week in 1989 and 1990.
Mr. Hoad put Barbados on the map for international sailing and became a legend in Barbados and
Caribbean sailing circles when, in 1967, with Bill Tempro as crew, he won GOLD at the GP14 World
Championship Regatta in Ontario, Canada. To date, this is the only Gold Medal won by any
Barbadian at a World Class sailing event.
Mr. Hoad has taught, encouraged and mentored many of today's Barbados sailors and was
instrumental in the formation of the Barbados Yachting Youth Training Association, which has
trained thousands of young Barbadians. For many years, he served on the Committee of the Barbados
Sailing Association and was elected to serve as Commodore of The Barbados Yacht Club from 1985
to 1988.
Mr. Hoad is a Trustee of The Barbados Yacht Club and in 1999 was awarded Honorary Life
Membership for his long and outstanding service of over forty-five years.
Mr. Jack Hoad recently celebrated his sixtieth wedding anniversary with
Mrs. Jeanette Hoad and
they are the proud parents of four girls, grandparents of six, and great grandparents to two.

The award of BARBADOS SERVICE STAR is being made in recognition of his contribution to
sport, in particular, sailing.
****
MRS. BONETA PHILLIPS, BSS, was born in Guyana on 8th December 1946 to Barbadian parents,
Lester DaCosta and Stella Springer. Boneta is one of six children; her parents migrated to Guyana
after their first son Lester Springer was born.
Her father subsequently migrated to the United Kingdom in 1955 and his wife and children followed
in 1960. Mr. Springer senior had always had strong links with Barbados and returned in 1966.
She was educated in the United Kingdom and from childhood developed an interest in equality of
opportunities. At the age of 17 she became a volunteer youth leader and subsequently trained as a
Social Worker. Her career progressed to that of a team leader in Kings Cross, London. Her position
offered her the opportunity to work with a diverse staff group as well as the opportunity to work with,
not only the local community, but with migrants from all over the world who were experiencing
challenges.
Her career progressed to that of a Social Work lecturer. She trained Social Workers and Probation
Officers and took lead responsibility for anti-oppressive practice courses. These short courses were
conducted with local Government Staff; and with students on health courses.
After retiring, because of her disability she was appointed as the non-executive Director of a National
Health Service Trust. The Trust was a long stay hospital for people with learning disabilities. She
became the chair of the care committee and had the opportunity, for the first time, to provide services
for persons with disabilities.
On migrating to Barbados, she quickly became active in the disability movement and was elected
President of the Barbados Council for the Disabled.
As President she lobbied and secured many of the Council's long held objectives. These included,
Hararnbee House, an office and resource centre for persons with disabilities.
12

She also spearheaded and launched Fully Accessible Barbados and negotiated monthly articles in the
Nation Newspaper. The support of the press as well as the implementation of programmes helped the
Council and its nineteen affiliate organisations to raise awareness of the challenges faced by persons
with disabilities as well as by their caregivers.
After stepping down as President of the Barbados Council for the Disabled she became the President
of the Multiple Sclerosis Society where she gained firsthand knowledge of the range of challenges
that persons with sever mobility challenges experience.
An example of concern was that in the event of a disaster, a wheelchair user cannot fetch water. She
applied to an international funding agency for funds to install water tanks and pumps in thirty-two
households. With collaboration the project was able to offer additional water tanks to other persons
with disabilities that were considered to be at risk. She is currently Secretary to the Multiple Sclerosis
(MS) Society.
Her attendance at the final stage of the negotiation of the UN Convention on the Rights of persons
with disabilities in New York and her experience of promoting human rights helped her in her quest to
empower and promote the rights of persons with disabilities in Barbados.
She was responsible for the development of the Young Voice Group in the Caribbean. Young persons
with disabilities aged 16 to 25, were given opportunities to meet, share ideas and develop their
advocacy skills.
Two young persons attended the Organisation of American States meeting in Trinidad and Tobago
and two others accompanied her to the joint UN, Leonard Cheshire Disability Conference in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia. Participants had the opportunity to share information and strategies for change.
She feels that the voices of young persons with disabilities must be nurtured and encouraged. She also
feels that like other groups, persons with disabilities should be given every opportunity to represent
themselves.
Mrs. Phillips is married to Anthony Phillips; they are proud parents of one child Julian who currently
lives and works in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and two grandchildren.
The award of BARBADOS SERVICE STAR is being made in recognition of her invaluable
dedication to the community in particular persons with disabilities.
****
MR. WILLIAM REGINALD TEMPRO, BSS, was born in Barbados on 23rd February 1944 to
Reginald and Ena Tempro, and received his secondary education at Foundation School and The
Lodge School from where he went on to spend a year in the United Kingdom.
On his return to Barbados he joined the family firm of A & R Tempro Limited in the Sales
Department and on retirement of the founding Partners, was appointed Managing Director. The firm
was subsequently acquired by Brydens, and Mr. Tempro shortly thereafter formed Tempro Trading
Company Limited which he still owns & operates today.
Mr. Tempro became involved in sailing at an early age starting with Heron Sailboats, graduating to
the GP14 sailboats, which in partnership with Mr. Jack Hoad as Skipper, competed in the World
GP14 Championships held in Canada, where they won the Gold Medal for Barbados. From GP 14's
he moved on to Fireball Sailing. He was the Skipper on Mr. Edmund Bayley's Swan 37, which took
part in and won the Swan Cup sailed in Antigua, among many other awards.
13

Mr. Tempro played cricket and hockey for the Pickwick Club, representing Barbados in hockey. He is
an avid fisherman having competed in many local and overseas tournaments. He took up golf in the
early eighties and played for many years at Rockley Golf Club, and Sandy Lane Golf Club. He is a
Life Member of the Barbados Yachting Association, the Barbados Yacht Club and the Barbados
Cricket Association.
Mr. William Tempro is married to Mrs. Frances Tempro and they are the proud parents of four
children.

The award of BARBADOS SERVICE STAR is being made in recognition of his contribution to
sport, in particular, sailing.
****

BARBADOS SERVICE MEDAL

For meritorious work in the civil, fire, military, police, prison or other protective services or any
other similar field of endeavour.
MR. VICTOR CLIFFORD, BSM, was born on 23rd March 1956. He attended the St. Giles Primary
School and later entered the Parkinson Memorial Secondary School in 1967 where he saw his first
live dramatic production, "The Monkey's Paw", performed by senior members of the school. This
performance not only whetted his appetite for the stage, it convinced him, that he could perform at a
similar level of excellence.
In 1973, while still at Parkinson School, Victor Clifford he won the Community Development's Best
Actor Award for the role "Fitz", in the full length drama produced by the Barbados Writers
Workshop, "I, The Executioner" written by Anthony Hinkson and directed by Milton McCollin.
Immediately after this, his versatility was noticed in the "Joe-Joe and Pablo" series which became a
household reference in the 70's and prompted the late John Wickham to write in the Bajan, "keep your
eyes on this one, he is going to turn into something big." As if prophetic, Trinidad award him Best
Supporting Actor in 1987 for his role in Edgar White's "I - Marcus Garvey" while his performances
throughout the region were hailed as "authentically Caribbean" in style. Small in stature but
energetic, dynamic and a commanding colossus on stage, he delivered entertaining and memorable
performances of Ringo, in Trevor Rhone's Smile Orange, Moustique in Derek Walcott's Dream on
Monkey Mountain, Shylock in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, Bussa in Hilary Beckles' Blessed,
Mobert Mandiville and several roles of Jeanette Layne's Pampalams, several roles in Stage One's Talk
Tents, King Ja Ja in Alvin Cummins's play of the same title and even doubled as Gabby in Gabby:
Fifty Not Out. At CARIFESTA, he represented Barbados, with aplomb, on no less than four occasions
since its inception and toured Boston, Hartford, New York, Canada and London to the delight of
many. Cameo roles in the films "The Triangle" and "Red Legs" along with the lead role in the
documentary, "From Barbados with Love!' add to this illustrious list of performing credits.
However, on realising the unsustainable nature of a full-time career in theatre in the Caribbean,
Mr. Clifford thought of bridging the gap by pursuing a degree in Literature in English at the
University of the West Indies in 1999, where he subsequently gained a First Class Honours
Bachelors Degree.
With these qualifications Mr. Clifford doubles as both a literature and drama teacher. Students from
West Terrace Primary, St. Lucy Secondary, Deighton Griffith Secondary and Parkinson Memorial
14

Secondary, the home to which he has returned, have benefited greatly form this wealth of talent and
knowledge.

The award of BARBADOS SERVICE MEDAL is being made for his outstanding dedication to the
growth of the theatre arts both in Barbados and the Caribbean.
****
MR. MACDONALD DACOSTA FINGALL, BSM, graduated from Kean University of New Jersey in
the United States of America with a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) Degree, having done a dual major in
Physical Education and Health. He is a Certified Teacher having acquired a Teachers Certificate
from the state of New Jersey, USA.
Mr. Fingall was an Athletic Director, Coach and Physical Education Instructor at the Lodge School
for 23 years. During his tenure, The Lodge School won every title in every sport multiple times.
During that time The Lodge became the First School ever to win The Intermediate Cricket Cup.
Also during his tenure the school recorded approximately 50 sports scholarships which were mostly
facilitated through the WIBISCO Sports Club with which The Lodge is affiliated.
While teaching at The Lodge, Mr. Fingall was involved in community activities coaching
St. Catherine's Cricket Team, The Clarke's Hill Football Team and the Superstars Basketball Team.
He was a Founder Member of The Tristars Basketball team which eventually became the Junior
National Basketball Team. He was the Trainer and Assistant Coach of that team and also the Trainer
of the Senior National Basketball Team.
He was the originator of the Fighting Back Programme at The Lodge School. This programme
provided the school with a Bus and a Car along with assistance with a "WELFARE" programme.
Many of today's Calypsonians, Dancers, Models, Deejays and Media personnel are products of that
Fighting Back Programme.
Mr. Fingall was a Founder Member the famous Untouchable Calypso Tent which was a main
attraction during the National Cropover Festival for 17 years. He was a Manager, Calypsonian and
Emcee of that calypso tent.
As a Calypsonian Mr. Fingall advanced to the Semi-Finals on four occasions and the Finals on two
occasions. He placed fifth in the first ever International Soca Monarch competition held in Trinidad
and Tobago and second in the World Calypso Contest held in New York. He was fourth in Barbados'
Party Monarch Competition and 3rd in the Congoline Road March.
Mr. Fingall has emceed the major shows at Cropover such as the Calypso Finals, The Soca Royale
Finals and Cohobblopot along with the Big Show. He also conducts Emcee Work Shops.
His song "Big Belly Man" was Number 1 in most Caribbean Islands and in the Caribbean Diaspora
around the world. He also "Chanted" on the WORLD-FAMOUS "RAGGA RAGGA".
He was the President of The St. Catherines Sports and Social Club for nine years helping to give the
club national prominence. For the first time, after 75 years of existence, BCA trial matches were
held at the club's grounds. Subsequently, The Lawyers World Cup and The Inter--Regional under19
games were held there.

15

Mr. Fingall has been used as a motivational speaker for many National Sports Teams including
Squash, Swimming, Cricket, Track and Field, Basketball and Netball. He continues to give
motivational talks to primary and secondary schools and has been the Featured Speaker at several
Primary School Graduation Ceremonies.
He has recently started as a Actor in the movies HUSH 3 and CHRISSY. He was nominated for
Best Supporting Actor in CHRISSY.

The award of BARBADOS SERVICE MEDAL is being made in recognition of his contribution to
education, the development of the youth and the development of the Crop Over Festival particularly
as comedian, tent manager, entertainer and calypsonian.
****
MRS. KATHLEEN BLOSSOM HARPER-HALL,BSM, familiarly known as Kathy Harper-Hall, was
born in St. Andrew, Jamaica on 30th June 1938, to Daniel and Vandama Harper. She received her
education at the Unity and Paisley Primary Schools and the Oberlin High School in St. Andrew. She
went on the Moneague Teachers Training College in St. Ann Jamaica, and the Chelsea College of
Physical Education in England, where she completed Certificate and Bachelors in Education
qualifications respectively majoring in Physical Education. She later went on to the UWI, Mona
Campus where she completed the post graduate course of the Diploma in Public Administration with
honours.
She taught at the Alderton and Walkerswood Primary Schools and the Penwood Junior Secondary
School in Jamaica, over a nine-year period, before migrating to Barbados in 1970. She taught at the
Alleyne School, St. Andrew for five years (1970-75), and at the St. Lucy Secondary (now Daryl
Jordan Secondary) for four years (1975-79) before joining the National Sports Council as a Senior
Coach in October 1979. At the NSC she was promoted to Assistant Director of Sports in 1982, and
acted as Director of Sports at intervals, the longest being from 1996 to 1998 after which she retired.
Mrs Harper-Hall has rendered outstanding service to Barbados and by extension, the Caribbean in
several areas of sport and community work. She served as Assistant Secretary and Meet Director to
the Athletics Association for several years; She is a Founding Member of the Barbados Netball
Association serving in the capacities of President, Vice President, Secretary and Director of that
organisation over the years; as Executive Officer for the Commonwealth Sports Development
Programme previously based in Barbados, serving that organisation as Administrator and Coordinator
of the Caribbean Coaching Certification Programme; and as the Regional Coordinator of the
Caribbean Healthy Lifestyle Programme; and as Vice President and Secretary of the Barbados Boxing
Association, serving that sport continuously for the past thirty-seven (37) years.
She is currently the President of the Caribbean Netball Association; the Secretary of the Barbados
Boxing Association; the Regional Coordinator of the Caribbean Healthy Lifestyle Programme (CHLP); the Programme Director for Sport for Life Barbados Inc., the Public Relations Officer of the
Alleyne School Alumni Association, and Coordinator of the Barbados Inter-Alumni Association's
Athletic Championships (BIAAAC). In addition, she is a qualified trainer of netball coaches and
umpires for the Americas Region, a member of the Education Committee of the Barbados Association
of Netball Umpires; and General Secretary of the Organisation of Caribbean Administrators of Sports
and Physical Education (OCASPE) an organisation recognised and supported by CARICOM, to
further the cause of the development of sports across the Caribbean region.
Mrs. Harper-Hall who is widowed is the biological mother of four daughters and two sons and the
foster mother of four daughters, the youngest of whom is the outstanding Barbados athlete, Akela
Jones.
16

The award of BARBADOS SERVICE MEDAL is being made in recognition of her outstanding
contribution over the last five decades to the development of sport in particular netball.

****
MR. ANDREW OLIVER LOKEY, BSM, was born in Barbados on 5th August, 1975 and received his
secondary education at St. Leonards Boys Secondary, tertiary education at Barbados Community
College and The University of the West Indies, Barbados.
Mr. Lokey has rendered outstanding service to Barbados as a teacher and mentor. As the conductor of
the nationally and worldly acclaimed St. Leonards 100 Boys Choir, he has motivated and inspired
young men to achieve greatness through their involvement in the wonderful music they sing. Indeed
the music serves as a measure of didacticism. This award-winning choir continues to be a trail-blazer
for many choirs and musicians alike to emulate.
In addition, he has trained many choirs across Barbados. Most recently, he trained and assisted Miss
Barbados World Zo Trotman in preparation for her talent segment of Miss World Beauty Pageant in
London in 2014.
As a teacher of Spanish and French, Mr Andrew Lokey inspires his students to excel. Most recently
he entered three third form students for the CSEC Spanish Examination and all three students were
very successful. He continues to reap many successes with his lessons programme achieving one
hundred per cent passes practically every year.
In 2012, Mr. Lokey received an award for sterling contribution to education from the Ministry of
Education. He has been voted Teacher of the year for 3 years at the St. Leonards Boys Secondary
School. He has received two wards from the Rotary Organisation for his contributions to the
vocational field. In 2013, Mr. Lokey received the National Award of Distinguished Teacher.
He has plans to continue to motivate the choir to give inspiring performances and to challenge his
students to aspire for greatness in their behaviour, attitude and academics.
Recognising that there will be challenges, his goal is to triumph over adversity - with an impeccable
record.
The award of BARBADOS SERVICE MEDAL is being made for his invaluable contribution to the
development of the youth of Barbados in his role as teacher and Choir Director at the St. Leonards
Boys School.

****
Mr. Erskine St. Clair Simmons, BSM, was born in the United Kingdom on December 30, 1960, but
moved to Barbados to live with his grandparents at a very early age.
He became involved in soccer as a teenager, playing for various teams and was eventually elected to
the Executive Board of the Barbados Football Association as Assistant Secretary in 1984. In 1986, he
was elected an Executive Director of the Barbados Olympic Association.
In 1992, he was appointed the Assistant Secretary General of the Barbados Olympic Association and
in 1996, was elevated to Secretary General at the General Assembly of that year. He still serves in that
17

position and thus to date, has provided over a quarter century of unbroken service to the Olympic and
sports fraternity of Barbados.
He has served as Chef de Mission to the various teams attending the Olympic Games, Pan American,
Central American and Caribbean Games.
In 1994, he was the first Barbadian to participate in the International Olympic Academy's Young
Participants' Session in Olympia, Greece, paving the way for many other of our young men and
women to follow.
Observing the desire of many young Barbadians to become involved in the Olympic sport of
gymnastics, he founded the Barbados Gymnastics Federation in 2002 and was the Inaugural President
of that Body. This initiative introduced the sport of gymnastics to Barbados.
During the period 1988 - 2004, he served on the Technical Commission of the Pan American Sports
Organization, the Olympic continental body responsible for the Americas. He also served as a Board
Member for the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) from 1998 2007.
In 2012, Mr. Simmons was named as a member of the Evaluation Commission for both the 2018
Commonwealth Games and the 2019 Pan American Games. This necessitated his evaluating bids
from the cities of Queensland in Australia, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, Bolivar in Venezuela, Lima in
Peru, Santiago in Chile and La Punta in Argentina.
He has also served as both a member and Deputy Chairman of the National Sports Council of
Barbados.
During his long tenure in sports administration, Mr. Simmons has received a number of awards and in
2000, was the recipient of the IOC's Sport and Universality Trophy. He currently has been nominated
for the Pierre de Coubertin Trophy for the Advancement of Olympism in Barbados. This Award will
be presented in December.
Outside of sporting activities, Mr. Simmons has also contributed to national development by serving
in various capacities for clubs and committees. He was also Deputy Chairman of the Sanitation
Service Authority and is currently a Director of that national corporation.
The award of BARBADOS SERVICE MEDAL is being made in recognition for over thirty years of
outstanding service in the field of sports administration in particular his contribution to the Barbados
Olympic Association.
****

18