Barbados Today

It is with profound sadness that I received the news of the death of Sir Richard Haynes. For decades Sir Richard was one of the foremost and eminent medical practitioners not only in Barbados but across the region.

In Parliament he was a formidable member and skillful debater. On the political hustings he was a much sought-after speaker. He was an astute businessman. After becoming disaffected with the performance of the Democratic Labour Party in late 1980s he spearheaded the formation of the National Democratic Party whose membership expectedly contained a number of similarly disaffected Dems.

His entry into party politics and demonstration of a comprehensive and creditable knowledge of economics and public finance helped catapulted him into political prominence. At the height of his multi-faceted and outstanding career Sir Richard had been recognised as a erstwhile political opponent who went on to become a nation-builder and statesman. By the later stages of his life he earned a reputation as an astute and successful businessman.

By all accounts Sir Richard was an outstanding son of the Bajan soil. He was also one of the few remaining Barbadians of a distinctly different political era.

On behalf of my family as well as on my own behalf I offer sincere condolences to his family, close friends and of course to the Government of Barbados and fellow-Barbadians.

May he rest in peace.

— Ambassador Joseph E. Goddard