Sir John Is Dead

INDEPENDENT SENATOR and former business leader Sir John Stanley Goddard is dead.

Sir John, a frank and at times thought-provoking voice in the Senate and a former leader of the Goddard group of companies, passed away at about 2:15 a.m. yesterday. He was 77.

The death followed a brief illness and stunned members of the large Goddard family.

"He went into the hospital yesterday," son Geoffrey Goddard told the SUNDAY SUN.

"We thought he was going to come home this weekend. But things didn't work out that way."

Sir John died surrounded by members of his family at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he had been taken after complaining of feeling unwell.

"He was in very high spirits yesterday [Friday]," his son said.

"He was making a lot of fun and joking. We never thought he would have died. Maybe it was just a case of age, something as simple as that."

Sir John was awarded the Gold Crown Of Merit in 1990 and the Knight Of St Andrew was conferred in 1993 for his contribution to commerce and the community.

He spent most of his life working with the group of companies launched by his grandfather Joseph Nathaniel Goddard.

He joined the business as a chartered accountant, after returning to Barbados in 1957 from studies at Queen's University and a five-year stint with Price Waterhouse.

Over the years, he moved up the ranks to serve as managing director and as chairman of the board of Goddard Enterprises Limited (GEL). He also headed the board of directors of several agencies, including the Private Sector Organisation.

Yesterday Prime Minister David Thompson headed the list of people paying tribute to Sir John. Thompson described him as "an outstanding Barbadian".

"Over the years that I have known him, his has always been a voice of reason and a very stabilising influence in the corporate sector, in the area of social policy, even in politics, though he has not been in the traditional sense a Barbadian politician," Thompson said.

"His wise counsel will be missed, particularly in those spheres.

"In the 1991 economic crisis many would not have known of the tireless work that Sir John did in seeking to build consensus across the private sector for the economic programme which was implemented. That programme became known throughout the world as a major triumph for a small developing country."

Opposition Leader, Mia Mottley said: "We shall miss his contributions to debate in the Senate, which were characterized by both frankness and fairness and an ability to zero in on matters, which were of importance to ordinary people."

President of the Senate Branford Taitt is out of the island, but Deputy President of the Senate Kerryann Ifill said of Sir John: "His contributions in the Senate were always filled with wisdom and considerable value as he often took a view of proceedings which others did not. His presence in the chamber will be greatly missed."

Prominent lawyer and former minister Sir Henry Forde described Sir John's contribution in the sphere of business as "exceptional".

"He was a nation-builder in many respects, both in industry and in giving proper non-partisan guidance to how we should run our country," he added.

Sir John is survived by his wife Katherine Lady Goddard and five children - Geoffrey, Susan, Paula, Lynnette and Julie - as well as 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Sir John is the third Senator to have died in about two weeks. His death follows that of former senators Enid Lynch and Marjorie Blackman. (TY)

Source: www.nationnews.com