Government

We Gatherin’ 2025 Honours List – St. Peter

Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Prunella Mason, Freedom of Barbados, Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Dame of St. Andrew, Senior Counsel, Doctor of Laws, President of Barbados, has consented to the announcement of National Honours on the occasion of the We Gatherin’ 2025 National Celebrations.

Awards of National Honours for We Gatherin’ 2025

Pride of Barbados

‘A person who is a citizen of Barbados or is entitled to be registered as a citizen of Barbados; or is a permanent resident of Barbados and through sacrifice, diligence and dedication to service has made an outstanding contribution to community life in a parish in Barbados or to the improvement of economic and social conditions in a parish in Barbados.’

(Number of awards: Ten (10) persons who reside in the parish of St. Peter and

One (1) person who resided in the parish of St. Peter.)

Awardees who reside in the parish of St. Peter

Mr. Carol Rudolph Boyce

For his outstanding achievement in worker enfranchisement and the upliftment of the Diamond Corner and Boscobelle communities. As ‘The Beacon on the Hill’, for his dedication to the advancement of the Anglican Church, commitment to inspiring men to greater service and his impactful leadership of Men Fellowship.

Ms. Cheri Nicole Boyce

For dedicated services as a community builder, advisor, role model and philanthropist who has supported many educational, cultural and sporting activities in communities. For her unswerving commitment to people empowerment and her sterling achievements as an advocate for children and men’s rights, person’s living with disabilities, cancer support and the protection of women against violence.

Mr. Gray Egan Brome

For his unswerving commitment to supporting the needy and vulnerable. For his significant contributions to the economic development of his parish using his enterprises to provide employment opportunities for youth with potential and his resources to improve quality of life, uplift families financially and assist charitable causes for children and those without shelter.

Mr. Oral Mackie Holder

As a creative and exponent of the Arts, for his outstanding contributions to the cultural, educational and heritage development of St. Peter, for his achievements in empowering people of the north to be a part of our premier national festival – Crop Over. For his unswerving commitment to fostering economic growth, improving community life, advancing infrastructural development and strengthening diaspora relations with Barbadians abroad.

Ms. Sharon Maria Howell

For her exemplary service, sacrifice and diligence in improving the social, economic and environmental conditions of residents of St. Peter. For her outstanding achievements and steadfast commitment to pastoral work, philanthropy and leadership of community initiatives to enhance the development of children, build strong families and support the wellbeing and spiritual development of the sick, homebound and elderly.

Mr. Anthony Jordan

For over forty years of dedicated service to the teaching profession as an Administrator, educator and mentor. For his philanthropy and sterling contributions to the development of youth and his community through his work with the 4-H movement, sporting organisations and the constituency council.

Mr. Reynold Lyle McClean

For years of service dedicated to advancing the Methodist Church and its music and teaching ministries and ensuring that its legacy as a vibrant part of the community and built heritage of Speightstown is maintained. For his outstanding contributions to business and entrepreneurship in particular the tourism and hospitality sectors.

Mr. Irwin Seymour Scantlebury

For long and dedicated services to shaping young minds and inculcating a love for learning as a primary school teacher, his unwavering commitment to promoting and preserving the history and rich cultural heritage of St. Peter and his strong activism to build the church as well as resilient communities.

Mr. Bernard Anthony Weatherhead

As a serial entrepreneur, innovator and business pioneer, for his significant contributions to the socio-economic growth and development of the parish and for his steadfast commitment to providing employment in the hotel, restaurant and hospitality industries and the promotion of the natural, built and cultural heritage of St. Peter.

Mr. Randolph Emanuel Woodroffe

For his steadfast commitment to education, cultural expression and community development and his philanthropic efforts to expose young people to Barbadian culture and heritage as well as to support children to develop an appreciation for the Arts, Barbadian history and cultural expressions and his tireless work with other community stalwarts to keep the culture and spirit of Speightstown alive.

Awardees who resided in the parish of St. Peter

Mr. Mervin Leon Griffith

For his sterling contributions to business development and socioeconomic growth in St. Peter as well as the economic enfranchisement of its residents through public transport and entertainment. For his outstanding vision and dedication in introducing private public transportation to the parish and for his pioneering achievements in providing access to and developing the public transportation system in the north. (PR/GIS)

Government

Attorney-At-Law Sandra Rawlins Is New Public Counsel

Attorney-at-law Sandra Rawlins is the new Public Counsel in the Office of Public Counsel, Ministry of Energy and Business.

Ms. Rawlins was appointed on promotion to the position with effect from April 15, 2025.

The new Public Counsel said she was grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Barbados and promised to do her best along with her staff, to protect consumers’ rights and advocate for them in accordance with the law.

“My immediate plans for the organisation are to handle consumer complaints expeditiously; to have a website set up before the end of this financial year; and to continue our programme of education to consumers and suppliers,” she shared.

Prior to this appointment, she acted as Deputy Solicitor General with responsibility for Contracts and International Law, in the Solicitor General’s Chambers for about two and a half years.

Ms. Rawlins was called to the Bar in Barbados in 2006, after successfully completing the Legal Education Certificate at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago. She has a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom, and a Master of Laws from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, in Corporate and Commercial Law.

Since 2007, she stated, she “has gained valuable legal experience, including litigation”, while working in the Solicitor General’s Chambers. In 2017 and 2018, Ms. Rawlins briefly served as an acting Magistrate in the District A (Criminal Court) and District C Magistrate’s Court.

Before entering the legal profession, Ms. Rawlins was a graduate teacher at two secondary schools, having joined the Barbados Public Service in September 1984. (PR/GIS)

Government

Chad Blackman Sworn In At State House

Minister of Educational Transformation, Chad Blackman, was today sworn in as a Member of the Cabinet and Member of Parliament by The President of Barbados, Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, at State House.

After the brief swearing-in ceremony, Dame Sandra congratulated Mr. Blackman, who is the new Member of Parliament for St. James North.

The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley; Deputy Prime Minister, Santia Bradshaw; Attorney General Dale Marshall; Senior Ministers Kerrie Symmonds and Dr. William Duguid; other ministers; and Mr. Blackman’s parents Delvin and Jacqueline Blackman, among others.

Ms. Mottley congratulated the new Minister and lauded some of his attributes. She thanked Mr. Blackman “for his extraordinary humility, commitment to people, discipline and willingness to engage persons at all levels….

“I ask only that you remain humble, … [and] committed to serving the people of Barbados”, she urged.

Additionally, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the Minister’s parents, saying that over the years, he had set a fine example in being committed to serving at all levels.

Ms. Mottley said a vacancy now existed in the Senate Chambers and a new Senator would be announced shortly.

Meanwhile, Mr. Blackman thanked the Prime Minister for again reposing confidence in him and allowing him to serve in the Cabinet.

He continued: “I commit to working to ensure that the country’s educational transformational journey is one that, of course, is exciting, but equally rooted in understanding where we have to go, bearing in mind the nuances that we have as a country to take into consideration, as the global community that we operate under constantly changes.

“And, therefore, we have to change and adapt to it, equally putting Bajan values and ideas to the fore because the world must benefit from the intellectual capacity that we have in Barbados.”

Mr. Blackman said he was again looking forward to serving at the ministerial level and promised to continue working on behalf of the people of Barbados. (PR/GIS)

CAPTION: Minister of Educational Transformation, Chad Blackman, is congratulated by parents Delvin and Jacqueline Blackman, at State House

Government

CHAD BLACKMAN TO BE SWORN IN TODAY

Chad Blackman is set to be sworn in on Thursday as the new Member of Parliament for St James North, following a resounding win in Wednesday’s by-election. Representing the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), Blackman captured 84 per cent of the vote.

He secured 2,723 of the 3,231 ballots cast, leaving his nearest challenger, Felicia Dujon of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), far behind with 468 votes. Steffanie Williams of the Community Empowerment Party received 21 votes, while Alex Mitchell of the Bajan Free Party garnered seven. A total of 12 ballots were rejected.

With just over 8,500 registered voters in the constituency, the turnout stood at approximately 38 per cent.

When asked about how he felt after securing victory, Blackman said he was humbled, adding, “I see this, yes, as a victory, but now the real hard work begins. I made a lot of commitments to the people of St James North and, of course, the people of Barbados, and it’s really now to get on to the business of work.”