Nita Barrow
- Early Life and Family Background
- Nursing and Healthcare Career
- International Roles and Honors
- Governor-General of Barbados
Early Life and Family Background
Dame Elsie Ethlyn Clarke was born into a family of political and civic activists in Barbados. Her father, an Anglican priest, was dismissed from his post on the island of St. Croix for his controversial sermons challenging racism and social inequality. Dame Elsie's sister, Errol Barrow, became the first Prime Minister of independent Barbados. Her uncle, Dr. Charles Duncan O'Neill, was a founder of the Barbados Democratic League and one of Barbados' ten National Heroes.
Nursing and Healthcare Career
Dame Elsie pursued a career in nursing, studying on Barbados and continuing her education at the Universities of Toronto and Edinburgh, and later at Columbia University. She began her career as a nurse and midwife. From 1956-1963, she served as Principal Nursing Officer for Jamaica, and from 1964-1971, she was Nursing Advisor for the Pan American Health Organization. She later held the position of Medical Commissioner from 1971-1980.
International Roles and Honors
In 1983, Dame Elsie became the President of the North American Region of the World Council of Churches, serving as Acting President of the World Council of Churches in the same year. She also served as Barbados' Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1986-1990.
Throughout her career, Dame Elsie received numerous accolades and honors, including the CARICOM Women's Award in 1987 for her contributions to the women's movement in the Caribbean. She was made a Dame of St. Andrew in 1980 and a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1990.
Governor-General of Barbados
In 1990, Dame Elsie Clarke was appointed as Governor-General of Barbados, a position she held until 1995. During her tenure, she represented the British Monarch as the ceremonial head of state of Barbados.
