Date Posted: September 30, 2008.

The 13th Annual Conference of Presidents and Governors- General (GG) of the Caribbean Community will take place in Nassau, Bahamas from  October 6-9, 2008 at the Wyndham Nassau Resort & Crystal Palace Casino. See below profiles  of four of the GG's.

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Governor General - The Bahamas

THE BAHAMAS - His Excellency, the Honourable Arthur D Hanna, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. He was born on March 7, 1928 in Acklins to Mr. and Mrs Joseph Hanna (now deceased). He attended the Government High School in Nassau, and later the University of Bristol and Inner Temple, United Kingdom.

He was called to the Bar of England and Wales and when he returned to The Bahamas, he was called to the Bahamas Bar in 1955. Known as the “Architect of Bahamianisation”, Arthur Hanna is a lawyer as a Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister. He was one of the framers of the Bahamas Constitution and a member of the delegation that represented the Progressive Liberal Party at all of the constitutional conferences in the United Kingdom.

When the Progressive Liberal Party assumed officer in January 1967, he became the Deputy Premier, later Deputy Prime Minister, with additional responsibilities including the Public Service, gaming and accommodation until his resignation as Minister in 1984. During this period, he also served firstly as a Minister of Education, then a Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Trade and Industry and finally as Minister of Finance for the last 12 years as a Cabinet Minister.

He is married to the former Beryl Church of Bristol, England and they have five children: Arthur Dion Jr., an attorney, Mark Lindsay, entrepreneur; Glenys Hanna-Martin, attorney, and Dawn Victoria. A son David Sean pre-deceased him.

Arthur Hanna was sworn in on February 1, 2006 as the 7th Governor-General of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. He worships at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church.
 

Governor General Barbados.

BARBADOS - His Excellency Sir Clifford Straughn Husbands, GCMG, KA – He was born August 5, 1926, and received his higher education at the Harrison College, Barbados; Middle Temple, Inns of Court, London, England.

Sir Clifford was called to the Bar, Middle Temple. From 1952 – 54, he served in private practice, Barbados; as Deputy Registrar (Ag), Barbados. He served in various posts in the judiciary in the Caribbean, specifically in Barbados, Grenada, Antigua, Montserrat, and St. Kitts and Nevis.

A Queen’s Counsel, Sir Clifford also served as Judge, Supreme Court, Barbados; Justice of Appeal, Barbados; Chairman of the Community Legal Services; Chairman of the Penal Reform Committee and President of the Privy Council, Barbados. Sir Clifford also served as Council Member, Barbados Family Planning Association and Vice President of Barbados Lawn Tennis Association.

In 1989, he was made Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George by Her Majesty, The Queen; he also received the Companion of Honour of Barbados. His interests include music, swimming, photography and cricket.

Sir Clifford is married to Ruby C. D. Parris. He has three children, Sandra Dawne Taylor, Anthony and Laura Husbands.

Governor General - Grenada

GRENADA – His Excellency Sir Daniel Charles Williams, GCMG, QC – Sir Daniel was born November 4, 1935. He is Grenadian by birth and a Roman Catholic. He is married to a Grenadian and they parented four children ages range from 45 to 27 years.

Sir Daniel is Governor-General of the State of Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique from August 1996. He was Knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on May 7, 1997 with the Order of Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George.

He studied law in London; was called to the Bar of Grenada and London, England. He was also a schoolteacher (rising to Deputy Principal), Grenada.

His work experience includes private practice law, general but mainly civil, corporate and business law. In June 1996, he was appointed one of Her Majesty’s Queen Counsel; from June 1984 to 1989 elected and served in the Parliament of Grenada. He has served in various capacities in government as Minister of Health, Housing and the Environment; of Community Development and Women’s Affairs; Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General and Acted as Prime Minister.

Sir Daniel is a published author: A Synoptic View of the Public Service of Grenada, 1999; Prescription for a Model Grenada, 2000; God Speaks, 2001; The Layman’s Lawbook, 2002; and The Love of God, 2004. His hobbies, interests and other activities are scouting, tennis, astronomy and aviation – a private pilot between 1971 and 1973.

Governor-General - St. Lucia

ST LUCIA – Her Excellency Dame Calliopa Pearlette Louisy, GCMG, GCSL, D.St.J., Ph.D.LL.D. (Hon) FRSA, G – She was born on June 8, 1946 and was educated at Laborie Girle’s Primary School, St Lucia; St. Joseph’s Convent, St. Lucia; University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados; Universite Laval, Quebec, Canada; and University of Bristol, United Kingdom.

Dame Calliopa obtained a Bachelors of Arts Degree in English and French from UWI, a Masters of Arts (Linguistics) Universite Laval; and a PhD (Higher Education) University of Bristol. She has been a teacher, a tutor, a principal, a dean at Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, where she also served as vice principal and principal.

Amongst her distinguished honours are: Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (Knighted by Her Majesty The Queen); Dame of Grace of the Most Venerable Order of St John’s and Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Lucia.

Dame Calliopa was named International Woman of the Year 1998 – 2001; is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts; Paul Harris Fellow; Woman of Great Esteem and received the Caribbean Luminary Award. Her special interests include the performing arts, language and culture, gardening, and Small States issues.