G-G Susan Dougan to be awarded Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George

The approval has been given from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for Governor General Susan Dougan OBE to be made a Dame.

A letter came from Buckingham Palace last week, which informed that, following the recommendation of Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, the Queen has granted approval for Dougan to be awarded with the Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George.

Currently, arrangements are being made through the Central Chancery of Orders of Knighthood, Buckingham Palace, for an investiture date/ delivery of the insignia.

This information was relayed in an official release from the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday March 2, but, speaking to SEARCHLIGHT yesterday, Dougan informed that she was told of the honour last Thursday.

She disclosed that the Prime Minister phoned to tell her the same day that the letter arrived.

Dougan, who had already been bestowed with the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2010, and sworn in as the first female Governor General last August 1, continues to pave a distinguished path.

The Governor General revealed that it is an honour “for me to serve my country, this beloved nation of ours and at the capacity that I’m doing so, it is very humbling.”

It is also an honour that she didn’t expect, as with her being made Governor General.

“I never thought that one day I would be…and I’ve always said however, that in life there’s a plan for everyone and whatever it is we have to thank God for his mercy, for his intervention, and also to take whatever comes with grace,” she stated yesterday.

Further, Dougan stated “I didn’t think that there would be anything different to what I’ve been doing during my life’s work, where you reach out to people to help those who really need a helping hand, to improve the Lot of many Vincentians and other persons who really do need your help.”

“…It’s just that I have a little more visibility here and it will assist in getting some of the programs and maybe projects that I have earmarked, done. It would assist greatly. But I will continue what I used to do in my early life, to help others to care and share and to respond to the needs of persons in the community when there’s a need to do so,” she continued.

For any out there that may be seeking to be called Her Ladyship/Sir one day, Dougan’s advice is “whatever you do, you have to work hard to achieve it. Nothing in life… that is worth having, comes easily, and if it comes so easily then sometimes you don’t cherish it. It’s what you work hard for that you really cherish.”

She added, “You can reach for the stars, be prepared to work, not to trample on others in order to get it, but to respect others, to love what you’re doing, and most of all, to care about people, to care about your neighbours, and the others, and the seniors in society, and to be humble at all times.”