Former Deputy Prime Minister Dame Billie Miller has been bestowed with the region’s highest honour.
She, along with former West Indies captain and “Master Blaster” Sir Vivian Richards; former CARICOM Secretary General Irwin LaRocque, and Trinidad and Tobago calypso icon David Rudder, received the Order Of The Caribbean Community during last night’s opening ceremony for the 43rd Summit of the CARICOM Heads of Government being held in Paramaribo, Suriname.
Dame Billie, who was seen live on a large screen as her citation was read, was hailed as “one of the most distinguished daughters of the Caribbean . . . who has lived a life of dedicated service to the people of the Caribbean, and who has been a trailblazer in the fight for the rights of women all over the world”.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, seated in the front row, looked on as Dame Billie, one of her mentors, received a standing ovation before Minister of Foreign Affairs, The Most Honourable Senator Dr Jerome Walcott, stepped forward and accepted the award on her behalf. (BW/HG)
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