Former Member of Parliament describes Queen Elizabeth II as a woman of wisdom and political savvy

THE SPEAKER of the OECS House of Assembly, Rene Baptiste has described the passing of Queen Elizabeth II as “the end of an era”.

Baptiste spoke to SEARCHLIGHT yesterday, September 12 shortly after she signed the book of condolence that has been opened at Government House following the passing of this country’s Head of State.

RENE M BAPTISTE was honoured by Queen Elizabeth II for her service in the fields of law, international finance, culture and politics with a CMG in 2011. She received the medal from Prince Charles, now King Charles III at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in May 2011

“The passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II marks the end of an era in my opinion. She presided over the expansion of the Commonwealth which now includes 56 countries; former colonies and some that were not former colonies, like the last two (Gabon and Togo) that joined this year.

“She presided over many constitutional changes among those colonies. Some have elected to remain with her as the Head of State, others became Republics, but they have remained within the Commonwealth,” the attorney at law said.

Baptiste made the Queen’s NewYear List in 2011 when she was awarded the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for her service in the fields of law, international finance, culture and politics. She is the second Vincentian female to receive the award, the first being Dame Monica Dacon.

The former elected parliamentarian and minister of government said the late monarch was a woman of immense wisdom.

“It was a remarkable time for the most part, in the second half of the 20th century and the first quarter of the 21st century. A woman of dignity, immense wisdom and political savvy. It is the end of an era.”

Between 2012 and 2022, Baptiste chaired the local committees set up to plan the visits of members of the Royal Family to St Vincent and the Grenadines, including the visits of Prince Harry in 2016 and Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall in 2019.

She was also a member of the Commonwealth Observer Mission to the Uganda General Elections in 2016.

Rene Baptiste while a part of the Commonwealth Observer Mission to the Uganda Elections in 2016

The book of condolence will be open at Government House until Monday, September 19. Yesterday, dignitaries were invited to sign and from today,Tuesday, September 13, members of the public are invited to sign the book between the hours of 10:00 a.m and 4:00 p.m.