Her Excellency the Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason at the President Inauguration Ceremony on November 30th, 2021. (Photo by Michron Robinson)
By Regina Thomas on Wednesday, 1 December, 2021 at 01:35 PM
Her Excellency the Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason has become the first president of Barbados, the newest republic of the world.
The president was nominated on October 20th, 2021, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre but was installed at the President Inauguration Ceremony on November 30, 2021 - the country’s 55th birthday.
The ceremony was attended by Prince of Wales, His Highness Prince Charles and global superstar and businesswoman, Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty who was revealed to be Barbados’ 11th National Hero at the ceremony by Prime Minister Mia Mottley.
As Barbados cut ties with the British monarchy after nearly 400 years, the president was sworn in by Chief Justice Sir Patterson Cheltenham.
In her first address to the country as its president, she said, “Today, debate and discourse have become action…Today we set our compass to a new direction.”
She advised Barbadians to think of themselves as thought leaders and change agents in a “nation that is characterised by courtesy, harmony, unity, opportunity, equality, economic wellbeing empowerment, and respect for each other’s differences”.
After midnight of the historic event, fireworks were visible in the night sky across the island to signal the country’s new status as a republic. Barbados and Great Britain have split amicably and will continue their diplomatic relationship.