KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – Governor General Dame Susan Dougan, the first women ever to be appointed head of state in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, says she will step down on Monday, January 5, ending 50 years of public service.
Dame Susan Dougan“I am also pleased to say that I demit office on the 5th of January, so it is indeed a pleasure to swear you in before I leave,” Dame Susan said as she sworn in members of the Public Service Commission (PSC) at Government House on Old Year’s Day.
Dame Susan, who turns 71 on March 3, said she had planned to demit office last September, coinciding with her 50th anniversary of public service, but had decided decided to stay on as head of state until the end of the year, in light of the general election, which was held on November 27
“I served 50 years as a public servant, and I felt it was time for me to demit any public office that I’m holding,” said Dame Susan, who was sworn in as Governor General on August 1 2019, becoming the first woman here to hold that office.
Prior to her appointment, she had served as the governor-general’s deputy since December 2014.
And so, I enjoy what I did over the years. I love children, and I will continue to work with them under the foundation under my name. And I always say, whatever you have to do, you have to do it with passion, with love, and that caring for people,” she told the state-owned NBC Radio.
“And it has been my guide throughout my public life, and so the decision to demit was not recently decided. That was a decision I discussed with my husband and family and because the elections were due just two months later than that date in September, I decided to stay on until the end of the year.”
Dame Susan said her 50-year career as a public servant has been “very, very fruitful,” adding “I also enjoyed being Governor General because I was able to do more and help a lot of young people in my daily work.”
She urged more people to get involved “in what is really important to us.
“I would like to see people join organisations, get involved in community work, try as far as possible to educate the young ones by being mentors for them and help them to become who they really are.
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony earlier, Deputy Prime Minister St. Clair Leacock recognised Dame Susan’s “tremendous and valuable service to our peoples in St Vincent and the Grenadines” and expressed hope that the outgoing head of state enjoys her retirement.
“And there will be a new governor general of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It’s the wish of this administration — and I speak for the prime minister — that we see a clear recognition and distinction between the role of state and government and we give to Caesar that which is Caesar’s
“Those things that are state functions must be represented here at State House, Government House, and those things that are government must be represented at the Prime Minister’s Residence, where, say, the seat of government.”
