One hundred and nine members of the Armed Forces of Barbados were awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award at the Governor General’s residence today on Government Hill, St Michael.
Prior to the presentation, Governor General Sir Elliott Belgrave told the 109 officers that funding for the acquisition of the medals were underwritten by the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
Sir Elliott stressed that at a time when Government was asking Barbadians to make financial sacrifices, it could not be seen spending money on the acquisition of the medals.
Barbados TODAY was told that to qualify for the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, officers would have to be veterans of 20 years service in the armed forces on February 6, 2012, the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s coronation.
The medals were presented to the officers by the Governor General the Attorney General, Adriel Brathwaite, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and Security Gabrielle Springer, acting Chief of Staff Ricky Shurland, Regional Director of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation and retired Lieutenant Colonel Owen Springer.