Frederick Ballantyne

Sir Frederick Nathaniel Ballantyne, GCMG (5 July 1936 – 23 January 2020) was the Governor-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines from 2002–2019. A trained cardiologist and former chief medical officer of the country, he was appointed governor-general on 2 September 2002. He succeeded Dame Monica Dacon, who had been acting in the position after the death of Charles Antrobus.

His Excellency Sir Frederick Ballantyne GCMG
Ballantyne in 2017
Governor-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines[1]
In office 2 September 2002 – 31 July 2019[2]
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Ralph Gonsalves
Preceded by	Monica Dacon (Acting)
Succeeded by	Susan Dougan
Personal details
Born	Frederick Nathaniel Ballantyne 5 July 1936[3] Layou, Saint Vincent, British Windward Islands
Died	23 January 2020 (aged 83)[4] Villa, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Spouse(s)	Sally-Ann Ballantyne
Alma mater	Howard University SUNY Upstate

Early life and medical career

Ballantyne was born on 5 July 1936, as his parents' only child.[5] His father owned a small hotel, and he has described himself as "from a business family".[6] Ballantyne was the first member of his family to attend high school.[7] On the advice of an acquaintance who had studied medicine in the United States, he chose to attend university in that country (rather than in Britain or Canada, as was usual for Vincentians at the time). He completed an initial degree in chemistry at Howard University (in Washington, D.C.), and then went on to the SUNY Upstate Medical University (in Syracuse, New York) to study medicine. The "sole black individual" enrolled in the medical school, Ballantyne was elected to student government in every year of his degree, and in his final year was elected student body president.[8] He interned in at the Montreal General Hospital after graduation, and then completed his residency in internal medicine in Rochester, New York, followed by a fellowship in cardiology.[7]

Upon returning to Saint Vincent in 1971, Ballantyne was "the most highly trained physician on the island". He was consequently appointed chief of medicine at the newly constructed Kingstown General Hospital (now called the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital).[7] Ballantyne oversaw upgrades in the facilities of both the hospital and regional health clinics, with one of his first priorities being to expand the hospital's immunisation program. He also instituted the hospital's Visiting Specialist Program, which recruited overseas medical specialists to volunteer in Saint Vincent's hospitals in exchange for free accommodation in the country's resorts.[3] In 1985, Ballantyne was appointed Saint Vincent's chief medical officer, serving in the position until 1992. He remained involved in medicine after his official retirement from practising, in a consulting role.[7] Outside of his career in the medical field, Ballantyne had business interests in several other areas. Prior to being appointed governor-general, he served as president of the Millennium Bank, an offshore bank registered in Saint Vincent,[9] and also as president of Dimethaid International Inc., a pharmaceutical company registered in Barbados. He was also the founder of International Business Services Limited (IBS), a financial services provider now run by his son, Marcus,[10] and a co-owner of the Young Island Resort, a tourist resort on a small island off Saint Vincent's southern coast.[11]

Governor-General

Ballantyne was sworn in as Governor-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 2 September 2002, having been nominated to the position by the country's prime minister, Ralph Gonsalves.[3] He replaced Dame Monica Dacon, who had been acting governor-general since the death of Sir Charles Antrobus in June 2002.[12] Later in the year 2002, in connection with his new appointment, he was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George by Queen Elizabeth II.[13] In June 2009, Ballantyne was also awarded a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degree by the University of the West Indies (UWI), as one of sixteen regional figures being recognised for their contributions with honorary degrees.[14]

References

1. "Sir Frederick Ballantyne demits the Office of GG". 2 August 2019.
2. "SVG's First Female Head of State Sworn In". 1 August 2019.
3. "Frederick Nathaniel Ballantyne" – Caribbean Elections. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
4. "Former G G Sir Frederick Ballantyne Passes". 23 January 2020.
5. East, David; Thomas, Richard J. (2014). Profiles of People in Power: The World's Government Leaders. p. 444. ISBN 978-1317639398.
6. History – Young Island. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
7. Renée Gearhart Levy, "Physician Statesman". Upstate Medical Alumni Journal (Winter 2013), pp. 16–19. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
8. "His Excellency Sir Frederick Nathaniel Ballantyne, G.C.M.G., M.D., D.Sc. " – Upstate Medical Alumni Association. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
9. (18 February 2015). "Former St Vincent bank operator sentenced to 22 years in prison in US" Archived 28 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine – Caribbean News Now!. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
10. "Our Expertise in Offshore Companies" Archived 8 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine – Dennings (Trustees) Ltd. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
11. Kenville Horne (10 January 2014). "Young Island employees recognized" – The Vincentian. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
12. "Past Governors & Governor Generals" – Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
13. Honours and Awards – The Gazette (issue 56789), 20 December 2002. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
14. "UWI honours sixteen of the Region's beacons" – University of the West Indies. Retrieved 20 April 2016.

External links

• The Governor General: Official Website of the Government of St. Vincent & the Grenadines