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The Governor General

His Excellency Sir Samuel Weymouth Tapley Seaton, GCMG,CVO,QC,JP

The Governor General

Biography

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Second acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, has appointed  His Excellency Sir Samuel Weymouth Tapley Seaton,GCMG, CVO, QC,JP as Governor General of Saint Christopher and Nevis with effect from the 1st day of September, 2015.

His Excellency Mr Seaton has served as Acting Governor General since May 14, 2015.

His Excellency took the relevant oaths administered by Her Ladyship Justice Marlene Carter at Government House. The brief ceremony was witnessed by Dr the Hon Timothy Harris, Prime Minister, Hon Vincent Byron, Attorney General, Senator Wendy Phipps, Mrs Josephine Huggins, Cabinet Secretary, Marguerite Foreman (sister of the Governor General), Mrs Janine Harris-Lake, Registrar of the High Court, and staff in the office of the Governor General.

QC Seaton has had a long and distinguished career of service to the people of the federation of St.Kitts-Nevis and is credited as being one of the Architects of their Constitution.

The Noted Attorney received his primary and secondary education at the Epworth Junior School, the Basseterre High School, and the St. Kitts-Nevis Grammar School. His tertiary studies at the University of the West Indies resulted in his earning a Bachelor of Laws Degree with Upper Second Class Honours – a sound footing for what was to become an illustrious career in the legal profession.

Among his major career feats are the following: (A) Crown Counsel, Attorney General’s Chambers and Acting High Court Registrar (1975-1980); (B) St. Kitts-Nevis Attorney General (1980-1995); and (C)He was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (GCMG) 9 November 2015 (D) Appointment as one of Her Majesty’s Counsels (Queen’s Counsel) in 1988. He also has the distinction of being named Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 1985.

The Past President of the OECS Bar Association Mr. Seaton has served on a plethora of various Boards, National Committees and Organisations. Some of these include Director of SSMC, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and Frigate Bay Development Corporation; President of the St. Christopher Heritage Society (now The St. Christopher National Trust), the St. Kitts-Nevis Bar Association and the OECS Bar Association; and Vice President for the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society. During the period 1985-1995 he also served as Chairman of Cable & Wireless (formerly SKANTEL).

Sir Seaton also possesses a keen acumen for legislative drafting. To his credit are such works as Income Tax Amendments for St. Lucia; the 2001 Securities Act; Aliens’ Landholding Regulation Acts in nine (9) ECCU member territories; the National Trust Bill for St. Kitts and Nevis, and the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College Bill. He has also rendered yeoman’s service in the consultation, design and drafting of our very own Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Bill, which eventually became the Small Business Development Act (Number 24) of 2009. This achievement is the result of a three-year, ILO-funded SME Development project with the St. Kitts-Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Mr Seaton is a partner in the local law firm Seaton & Foreman. He currently serves as Vice President of the St. Christopher National Trust.

The Deputy Governor General

His Excellency D.Michael Arthur Morton JP

Biography

GENERAL INFORMATION

DATE OF BIRTH: 12th August 1949
PLACE OF BIRTH: St. Kitts
MARITAL STATUS: Married
SPOUSE: Cynthia Mary A. Morton , Retired Banker

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

2014 Non-Executive Director St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla Trad ing & Development Co. Ltd
2001 -2014 Chairman/CEO St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla Trading & Development Co. Ltd

1993 Director St. Kitts Masonry Products Ltd
1999 -2015 Managing Director St. Kitts Masonry Products Ltd
1983 -2001 Executive Director TDC Group of Companies
                      St. Kitts Nevis Finance Company Ltd
                      St. Kitts Nevis Insurance Company Ltd TDC Rentals Ltd
                      TDC Rentals Nevis Ltd
                      Eastern Caribbean Reinsurance Company Ltd
                      Ocean Terrace Inn
                      Mercator Caribbean Trust Company Ltd
                      TDC Nevis Ltd
                      TDC Airline Services Ltd
                      TDC Airl ine Services (Nevis) Ltd
                      TDC Real Estate and Construction Ltd
                      Conaree Estates Ltd
                      TDC Flamboyant Tours

1981 Manager TDC Hardware Department
1979 Director TDC Corporation N. V. St. Maarten
1975 Manager TDC Business Machine and Office Equipment Department
1973 Technician St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla Trading & Development Co. Ltd

(Successor of J W Thurston & Company Ltd)
1966 Apprentice Technician J W Thurston & Company Ltd

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

2015 Vice Chairman National Council on Drug Abuse Prevention
2015 Vice President Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society
2009 -Present Member St.Kitts Mental Health Association
2004 -Present Deputy Chairman Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange Ltd (ESCE)
2000 -Present Honorary Consul Republic of Turkey to St. Kitts and Nevis
2010 -2012 President St. Kitts Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce
2000 -2002 President St. Kitts Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce
1996 -2000 Director St. Kitts Nevis Chamber oflndustry and Commerce
2000 – 2013 Director Cave Hill School of Business (UWI)
1988 – 1995 Director Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis
1985 – 1994 Member ZIZ Broadcasting Advisory Board
1994 – 1995 Deputy Chairman St. Kitts Nevis Social Security Board
1984- 1994 Director St. Kitts Nevis Social Security Board

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

1986 – 1998 Centre for Management Development (UWI)
Sundry Courses (Includ ing strategic plann ing, Finance,
Marketing and Human Resources Development Training)

1967 – 1968 Burroughs Business Machine Training Centre – Barbados/Guyana

1961 – 1966 Basseterre Senior School

OTHER INTERESTS

Boating
Fishing
Playing Dominoes
Music

Past Governor General

Sir Edmund Wickham Lawrence

Biography

 

EDUCATION

1982 -1985 Completed the BSC Management Studies Part 1 (Challenge) Degree programme with the University of the West Indies.

1975 – 1976 Completed the Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica.

1972 Completed a programme of studies at the London Polytechnic of Management Studies, gaining the Diploma in Management of Resources – British Broadcasting Corporation.

1970 Completed the Certificate in Public Administration with the University of the West Indies.

Completed the Summer Course in Drama, at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica.
1968 Passed with Distinction O’Level Principles of Accounts with the University of London.

1963 Passed with Distinction a Course in Customs and Excise at the Regional Training School for Customs and Excise Officers in Trinidad.

1953 – 1956 Attended the Charlestown Secondary School, Nevis, and gained the Cambridge School Certificate.

1944 – 1952 Attended the Gingerland Boys School, Nevis.

EXPERIENCE

2015 Appointed Governor General’s Deputy

2000 Appointed Governor General’s Deputy

1994 – Present Deputy Governor General – St. Kitts and Nevis, with responsibility For Nevis Affairs.

1981 – 1994 Accountant General, St. Kitts and Nevis.

1972 – 1981 General Manager, ZIZ Radio and Television, St. Kitts and Nevis.

1971 – 1972 Commercial and Accounts Manager, ZIZ Radio and Television, St. Kitts and Nevis.

1969 – 1971 Administrative Assistant, Premier’s Ministry, Government Headquarters, St. Kitts.

1966 – 1969 Officer-in-/charge of the Parcel Post Section of the General Post Office, Basseterre, St. Kitts.

1964 – 1966 Examinations Officer, Customs and Excise Department, St. Kitts.

1962 – 1963 Chief Revenue Officer, Anguilla.

1961 – 1962 Social Welfare Officer, St. Kitts.

1960 – 1961 Social Welfare Officer, Nevis.

1957 – 1960 Treasury and Customs Officer, Nevis.

1957 Teacher, Charlestown Secondary School

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

2003 Member of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) Management Team.

2002 Honorary Member Lions Club of St. Kitts.

1997 – Present Member of the Appeals Committee of the St. Kitts Netball Association.

1996 – Lay Reader and Chalice Bearer in the Anglican Church.

1995 Deputy Governor General, St. Kitts/Nevis.

1991 – 1995 Vice President of the Caribbean Family Planning Affiliation Limited.

1988 – 1995 Chairman of the Fundraising Committee of the St. George’s Anglican Church, St. Kitts.

1987 – 1988 Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the St. Kitts Netball Association.

1986 – 1994 President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Family Planning Association.

1985 – 1994 Chairman of the Selection Committee of the St. Kitts Netball Association.

1982 – 1988 Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the St. Kitts Football Association.

1982 – 1983 Zone Chairman of Lions Club International.

1979 – 1984 Charter Secretary of the St. Kitts Lions Club.

1972 – 1974 Executive Member of the St. Kitts Bridge Association.

1971 – 1972 Manager of the Santos Football Team, St. Kitts.

1966 – 1968 Secretary of the St. Kitts Lawn Tennis Association.


OTHER ACTIVITIES

1964 – 1967 Secretary of the St. Kitts Civil Service Association.

1964 Formed and directed the St. Christopher Amateur Drama Group in St. Kitts.

1962 Manager of the Nevis Cricket Team in the Leeward Islands Cricket Tournament.

1961 – 1962 Secretary of the Nevis Cricket Association.

1960 – 1961 Charter Member of the Nevis Jaycees.

1959 – 1963 Captained the Knights of St. Georges Cricket Team in cup matches in Nevis.

1958 – 1963 Formed the Knights of St. Georges Cricket Club in Gingerland, Nevis.

1958 – 1962 Formed and directed two (2) drama groups in Charlestown, Nevis and Gingerland, Nevis.

1957 – 1961 Scout Master of the St. Georges Anglican Church Scout Troup, Nevis.

1956 Attended the Boys Scout 8th World Jamboree in Ontario, Canada.

1955 – 1956 Formed and became a Leader of the Charlestown Secondary School Scout Troup, Nevis.

1952 – 1961 Member of the Boys Scout Movement of the St. Georges Anglican Church Scout Troup, Nevis.

Sir Edmund Wickham Lawrence GCMG OBE

Biography

 (born 14 February 1932) was sworn in as Governor General on 2 January 2013.

1951-1954       Primary school teacher

1966                Graduated from the University of London with a degree in Economics

1967-69           Lectured at Walbrook College, London

1969                Started working with the St. Kitts Industrial Bank, known as the Penny Bank.

1970                Under his direction the bank offered  500,000 shares to the public.  The government opted to buy 60% of the offer and the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank was launched.

1972                Established National Bank Trust Company 1973 established National Caribbean Insurance Company

1973                Founding member of the Standing Committee of Chief Executives of Indigenous Banks, now the Caribbean Association of Indigenous Banks

2001                Established St. Kitts-Nevis Mortgage and Investment Company served as a consultant for the establishment of the indigenous Banks in Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines and the National Bank of Anguilla and its subsidiaries provided independent consultancy services in banking and finance to the Caribbean Development Bank as well as to the Governments of Montserrat, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Kitts and Nevis. served on the Boards of the SKNANB Group of Companies, Cable Bay Hotel Company Limited, Digicel (St. Kitts Nevis) Limited, ECIC Holdings Limited (Chairman) and the Eastern Caribbean Amalgamated Finance Company Limited (Chairman).

He was Vice President of the Eastern Caribbean Institute of Banking, President of the Bankers’ and Financial Services Association of St. Kitts and Nevis; Treasurer of the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society and Past Assistant District Governor, Rotary District 7030.

2009                Awarded the National Honour as Companion of the Star of Merit (CSM)

2010                Knight Commander of the most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG)

2013                appointed Knight Grand Cross of the most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (GCMG).

Sir Edmund is married to Lady Hulda and they have six children.

Sir Cuthbert Montraville Sebastian

Biography

Born:               22 October 1921

Parents:           James Matthew and Inez Sebastian

Education:

Basseterre Boys Elementary School

1936-39           Pupil Teacher at Basseterre Boys Elementary School

1950-53           B.Sc at Mount Alison University, Canada

1953-58           Medicine at Dalhousie University.  Licensed by the Medical Boards of Canada and of Nova Scotia

1962-66           Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Dundee Royal Infirmary, Scotland

Career:

1939                Learner dispenser at Cunningham Hospital

1943                Qualified and licensed as chemist and druggist

1944                Laboratory technician

1945                Senior Dispenser and Steward Cunningham Hospital

1958                Joined government medical service in St. Kitts as a general practitioner

1966                Medical Superintendent and Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the Cunningham hospital in St. Kitts

1970                Chief Medical Officer

1980                In private practice

Military:

1939                Joined St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force

1943                Promoted to Medical Sergeant

1944                Joined HM Royal Air Force and trained as rear gunner during the Second World War

1958                Captain Surgeon of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force

1962-66           Voluntary attachment to the Scottish Army with the rank of Captain.

1966-80           Re-appointed Captain Surgeon of the St. Kitts-Nevis Defence Force

Other:

Early 1960s serving brother of the St. John’s Ambulance  Association, later local Chairman

1970                Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

1973                Local physician to HRH Prince of Wales during his visit to St. Kitts

1977                ADC and Personal physician to Premier of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla during his visit to Buckingham Palace

1984                Contested general election as a candidate for the St. Kitts Labour Party

1996                Governor General of St. Kitts-Nevis and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George

1998                Honorary degree from Dalhousie University

2002                Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) of Edinburgh in Scotland, for outstanding career and service to humanity in the field of medicine.

2005                Honorary Doctorate from Mount Allison University

Sir Clement Athelston Arrindell

Biography

Sir Clement Athelston Arrindell, G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., Q.C., was born in Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis on 16th April, 1931.  He was the son of George Ernest Arrindell and Hilda Iona Arrindell, deceased (1975). He was educated at Bradley Private School, then at Basseterre Boys Elementary School, where he was head student in his final year, heading a slate of four scholarship winners from the Elementary School.  He entered the St. Kitts & Nevis Grammar School, where he consistently topped his classes.

He graduated in his final year as top Scholar, not only of this particular School, but also of all other graduates in the other Secondary Schools throughout the colony of St. Kitts & Nevis‐Anguilla as it then was, narrowly missing the Leeward Island Scholarship, won that year by Montserrat.

In 1950, he entered the Treasury Department of the Civil Service, and at the end of 1954 he left for studies in England.  In April 1956, he entered Lincoln’s Inn, London, and was called to the Bar in June 1958 after setting a record for completion of the Bar Finals. Following Postgraduate Studies, he returned to St Kitts & Nevis in December 1958.

His career spanned the following: Private Practice as a Barrister‐at‐Law and Solicitor (1959‐1966); Acting Magistrate (1964‐1966), Magistrate (1967‐1972), Senior Magistrate (1972‐June 1978) (serving both at home in St Kitts and in the Territory of the Virgin Islands); Puisne Judge of the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court (July 1978‐November 1981). He was appointed Governor, St. Kitts & Nevis November 1981, and Governor General at Independence, on 19th September 1983, thus making him the last Governor of the Colony of St. Kitts & Nevis and the first Governor General of the newly independent Nation. He was first knighted in 1982.  He married Evelyn Eugenia O’Loughlyn, a prominent music teacher and church organist of Basseterre, in 1967.

Sir Clement retired from active public life in 1996. His hobbies included gardening and piano playing … he had a passion for classical music.

Born:               19th April 1931

Parents:           George and Hilda Arrindell

Education:       Private School and Basseterre Boys School

1944-49           St. Kitts Grammar School

1956                Admitted to Lincoln’s Inn, London

1958                Barrister at Law, called to the Bar in England and in St. Kitts

Career:

1949-56           Civil servant

1958-64           Private legal practice

1964-66           Acting Magistrate

1966-78           Magistrate

1978-80           Acting Puisne Judge of the West Indies Associated State in Montserrat, with additional responsibilities for the British Virgin Island

1980-1981       Puisne Judge

1981                Governor of the State of St. Kitts and Nevis

1983                Received Knighthood from HM Queen Elizabeth II

1996                Retirement

Sir Probyn Ellsworth-Innis

Biography

Sir Probyn Innis as born in St. Kitts where he received his primary and secondary education. After graduating from the University of the West Indies in 1961, he taught at the St. Kitts-Nevis Grammar School for some years.

He later read law at the Inns of Court School of Law in London and was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple.  He had a distinguished career in the public service of St. Kitts-Nevis culminating in his appointment as Governor in 1975.  Since leaving the office in 1981, he has been in private law practice.  Sir Probyn remains active in youth and community affairs

Sir Milton Pensonville Allen

Biography

Milton Pentonville Allen was born at Palmetto Point on the 22nd June 1888.  He was the son of Daniel Allen a stone mason of Challengers and Henrietta Garvey.  He received his early education at the Methodist school in his village.  Although he had academic potential, young Milton preferred a trade to teaching, much to the disappointment of his teacher Miss Geraldine Locker.

In New York

Young Milton was soon apprenticed to a tailor in Basseterre and then emigrated in search of a better future.  In the United States he took his trade seriously and graduated with a diploma from the David Mitchell’s Cutting and Designing School. While in New York he kept an eye on developments at home and was inspired at the thought of an organization that would promote workers’ rights.  In a letter to the editor of the Union Messenger, published on the 31st December 1931, he wrote,

The time has come and devolves most imperatively upon the inhabitants to join forces in defence of those rights.  Of course it is understood that the larger your organization the greater will be your financial obligations.  But you would be within your rights to call upon West Indians abroad to assist in this arduous, but righteous effort.

True to his word, Allen became part of a concerned group of Kittitians who sent financial assistance to the Workers’ League after it was founded. Following the Labour disturbances of 1935 they sent support which made it possible for the League to assist those accused of rioting to obtain legal representation.  That year after more than twenty five years in the United States, Allen returned in St. Kitts and was resident in Sandy Point.  He showed himself to be an ardent supporter of Thomas Manchester and even appeared as a speaker on the League’s platform.

In 1937 he married Annie Locker, Head Teacher at the Sandy Point Girls’ School and the couple moved to New York.  When she returned to her post, he supported the school’s  extra-curricular activities by sending her much needed sheet music.  He wrote poetry and even published a collection of poems one of which was set to music for choir by Dr. Leon Forrester, a musical examiner of the Royal College of Music in London, England.  From time to time he contributed items to The Union Messenger often expressing concerns regarding the well-being of workers.  When he finally retired and returned to St. Kitts in the 1950s his connection he became associate editor of the Workers’ Weekly and the Union Messenger and later editor of the Labour Spokesman.

In the Legislature

A quiet unassuming man, Allen also had a strong sense of dignity and decorum.  He was  a member of the Legislative Council from 1958 to 1962 and served as minister without portfolio.  That year saw the dissolution of the West Indies Federation and the return of Robert Bradshaw to St. Kitts.  Allen resigned his seat so that Bradshaw could return to the Legislative Council.  On the 27th August 1966, he was appointed Speaker of the House of Assembly.

Governor

In 1969, Milton Allen became the first Kittitian of African descent to be appointed Governor of the Associated State of St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla, a post he continued to hold till his retirement in 1975.  He performed the duties of his post with honour and integrity. He also fulfilled the duties of Chief Scout, Patron of the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade, Member of the Conservation Society for Historic Sites, Honorary life member of the Rotary Club and remained a member of the Methodist Church.

Sir Milton Allen died at the J. N. France General Hospital on the 17th September 1981.

Sir Frederick Albert Phillips

Biography

Sir Fred Phillips, Governor of St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla 1967-1969