Barbados Mourns Passing of Former Prime Minister Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Prime Minister Mia Mottley has praised the contribution of former prime minister Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford, who died on Monday at the age of 86, describing him as a true statesman who served Barbados with honor and the wider Caribbean with distinction.

Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford (File Photo)In a statement on its official Facebook page, the main opposition Democratic Labour Party (DLP),which Sandiford headed noted his passing adding that the DLP “family mourns the passing of Sir Lloyd, 1937 – 2023, former Prime Minister of Barbados and Leader of the Democratic Labour Party.

The party said that it was Sir Lloyd who seriously began the task of restructuring and repositioning the economic after the crisis of the early 1990s.

“Many things will be written about Sir Lloyd’s passing, his tenure as Barbados’s fourth Prime Minister, his role in shaping the Democratic Labour Party, in modernizing education, reforming Barbados’ economy and in his later years, opening doors to China as the country’s first Ambassador to China.

“However, what must be powerfully stated and remembered about our statesman, Sir Lloyd was a Barbadian Patriot at his core. He left public life with an unblemished character and reputation, always putting country first. If you look up a definition of patriot and Nation Builder, you will find his name and his picture,” the DLP added.

Before ascending to the highest political office on the death of Prime Minister Errol Barrow on June 1, 1987, Sir Lloyd had long been credited as the most significant post-independence education minister, particularly in developing the Barbados Community College and opening new primary and secondary schools.

His brainchild, the development of Sherbourne as a national examination center, eventually became the island’s premier convention center which bears his name, the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Conference Centre.

In her tribute, Mottley, who is on an official visit to China, said “again, it is with a sense of deep sadness, that I say goodbye to yet another Barbadian nation builder, a true statesman, and without doubt a through and through gentleman of post- Independence Barbadian politics”.

Mottley said in her statement,, said the former prime minister, who served as Barbados fourth head of government from 1987 to  and  who has been known affectionately here as “Sandi” has had the distinction of maintaining a political career of more than three decades without a single instance in which bad behavior or the use of the robust language and colorful metaphors so common to Caribbean politics has been attached to his name.

”In fact, those who knew him well might argue that the only feature of his personality that could have possibly rivalled his ever-gentle spirit, was his capacity to take a position on any matter and remain resolute and unmoved, even in the face of the most unrelenting pressure. Sir Lloyd was what Bajans would respectfully describe as, “his own man” at all times.”

She said no review of Sir Lloyd’s sterling contribution to Barbados would be complete without tribute to his leadership of the Ministry of Education, adding that his tenure included the establishment of the Barbados Community College, an institution at which he not only subsequently taught, but which has changed the future of thousands of Barbadian young people.

Mottley said that it is “ironic hat as I issue this statement, I am in China” where Sandiford served as the country’s first resident ambassador in Beijing from 2010 to 2013.

“Sir Lloyd demonstrated his magnanimity of character and dedication to public service by agreeing, having completed service as Prime Minister, to once again serve this country as Barbados’ first resident Ambassador to China.

”Sir Lloyd was also a genuine and dedicated regionalist and as Prime Minister, he took the decision to take Barbados deeper into the regional integration process by signing on to the Grand Anse Declaration, which eventually led to the establishment of the Single Market and Single Economy,” she added.