The Order of Barbados is a national Order of honours and decorations for Barbados.
History
The first Order of Barbados was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II by letters patent dated 25 July 1980. In 2019, the Parliament of Barbados passed an Act amending the Order of Barbados to include the newly created Order of Freedom of Barbados. This new order was designed to be the highest honour Barbados could offer, in order to replace the traditional Knights and Dames of St Andrew. However, the act provided that the recipient would still be able to choose between receiving the new Order of Freedom or the traditional knighthood.
With Barbados becoming a republic on 30 November 2021, a new Order of Barbados came into force that was established with the Barbados National Honors and Decorations Act 2021 by the Parliament of Barbados on 28 October 2021, and which replaced the former Order of Barbados that existed under the monarchy.
Order of Barbados (2021–present)
The Order under the Republic of Barbados consists of the following honours and decorations:
+ Honours and decorations of the Order of Barbados Award Grade Post-nominal letters Style Order of Freedom of Barbados Member FB The Most Honourable Order of the Republic Member OR The Honourable Gold Award of Achievement — GA — Trident of Excellence Gold Trident of Excellence GTE — Silver Trident of Excellence STE — Barbados Service Award Barbados Service Star BSS — Barbados Service Medal BSM — Barbados Services Medal of Honour — — — Barbados Humanitarian Service Award — — — Award of Pride of Barbados — — — Prime Minister’s Award for Leadership — — —
Order of Barbados (1980–2021)
The Order while Barbados was still a Commonwealth realm (1966–2021) consisted of four classes of members, two of which were subdivided into two grades. There was a limit as to how many appointments could be made to each grade each year.
+ Grades of the Order of Barbados Class Grade Post-nominal letters Style Knight or Dame of St. Andrew — KA/DA Sir or Dame Companion of Honour of Barbados — CHB The Honourable Crown of Merit Gold Crown of Merit GCM — Silver Crown of Merit SCM — Barbados Service Award Barbados Service Star BSS — Barbados Service Medal BSM —
When the Order of the Commonwealth realm of Barbados became obsolete, no further appointments were made with this former Order, although "all appointments, awards or decorations conferred prior to 30 November 2021 pursuant to the Letters Patent shall continue to be acknowledged as validly conferred; and all holders of appointments, awards or decorations conferred pursuant to the Letters Patent shall be deemed to be members of the (new) Order".
Officers
Sovereign: Queen Elizabeth II, as Queen of Barbados (1980–2021) Chancellor: The Governor-General of Barbados (1980–2021) and then the President of Barbados (2021–present)
References