A Change at the helm of State

WITH ALL THE GLOOM and dangers around us including the questionable exercise of the military might of the US military behemoth, let us stay on a positive line in our first editorial of 2026. There is perhaps no better place to begin than right as the top, so as we say farewell to, and thank Dame Susan Dougan, our first female Head of State who demitted office yesterday, let us also welcome the new office holder.

This morning, Dame Susan’s successor will be sworn in, and what a choice he is! Stanley ‘Stalky’ John KC, (the male ascendancy to the British throne, and through it, colonies, and willing subjects as in our case, has been restored) will this morning be sworn in as our country’s eighth Governor General since independence.

In our choices since 1979, we have had populist choices, gone for gender representation and even had our share of political hacks, but few can challenge the suitability of the new GG for the job. He is as politically experienced as they come, with a career dating back to the seventies and encompassing every major political party since then. This will be no political babe at the helm.

Career-wise, he has earned for himself the appellation of a “legal luminary” with a formidable reputation in both legal and constitutional matters, no “wet behind the ears” is this new GG. Of course, politics being what it is in our country, there will be dissenters, mainly based on political persuasion, but there can be no doubt about his suitability for the post.

The appointment of the new Governor General also comes in the context of the normal post-election changing of the guard where, both traditionally, and in the context of administrative fit, there is usually a wholesale clearing of the house where major administrative appointments are concerned. In some countries for instance, persons holding leading political and administrative positions, do not wait, but submit their resignations.

This makes for a smooth transition allowing the new government to appoint persons who they perceive will fit their priorities. It does not always work out smoothly but that is a matter for the new government. In fact, such a clearing out is currently in train. For example, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has just announced an almost wholesale change in major foreign affairs appointments. Veterans such as our long-serving High Commissioner to the UK, his Excellency Cenio Lewis, and the devoted Ambasador to Cuba, his Excellency Ellsworth John, among them, will end their duties next month.We sincerely thank them for their efforts on our behalf.

Our country is grateful and proud of their efforts on our behalf.

Similar expressions of gratitude also go out to the female duo which brought honour to our country.

Her Excellencies Andrea Bowman, Ambassador to Taiwan; and Inga Rhonda King, Ambassador to the United Nations under whose tutelage, SVG attained membership of the UN Security Council. Both are also due to demit office at the same time, as is the popular Consul General in NewYork, Rondy ‘Luta’ Mc Intosh. To all these we express our appreciation for a job well done on behalf of our nation, and may the new choices be made objectively, rebuffing the efforts of self-seekers and the politically jaundiced.

Let us all warmly congratulate the new Governor General and offer him our full support. While his is still largely a ceremonial appointment, our political history has demonstrated that sometimes challenges do arise which call for wise and experienced counsel.

The new Governor General will not be lacking in that regard.