Barbados is celebrating a “very distinguished and great Barbadian patriot” with the naming of the roundabout at St. Patrick’s, Christ Church, after Sir Richard Cheltenham.

This was emphasised yesterday by Minister of Transport and Works and Senior Minister coordinating Infrastructure, Kirk Humphrey, as he delivered remarks at the official ceremony for the roundabout to be renamed the “Richard Cheltenham Roundabout”.

Mr. Humphrey, whose Ministry undertook the task of preparing the roundabout and its environs for the occasion, told the great statesman: “We thank you for your service, and service it was!  As a boy growing up, your name was a common name in the Barbadian economy. It was always associated with decency, hard work, discipline and progress.

Stating that a roundabout represents some of these attributes, the Minister said the occasion was “indeed fitting” and pledged his Ministry’s support to the upkeep of the roundabout.

 “I look forward, as I have the opportunity now to be a Minister of Transport, to be able to do the kind of work that you did – the loyalty to institutions. You moved the country forward in a way that reflects the way you approached public life. And, it really is a privilege and an honour to make this the first formal responsibility, as Minister of Transport and Works, to participate in this particular ceremony,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sir Richard, who thanked members of the National Honours Committee and the Cabinet for seeing it “fit to name the St. Patrick’s Roundabout”, stated he was touched and humbled when told the petition was signed by almost 300 residents. He added that both the honour and the location in St. Patrick were equally important to him.

In a light-hearted moment, he acknowledged that several people had called to congratulate him on the “remarkable achievement” while some fittingly commented that “it was most ironic that a man with over 100 accidents on his record would have a roundabout named after him”.

The man of the moment revealed he was born in St. Patrick’s in 1941, and at about four years old lived on St. Patrick’s Main Road, east of the roundabout. He reminisced about life with his grandmother and other family members, and recalled that his was a “secure and happy childhood surrounded by loving family, some of whom were prominent in the community”.

Sir Richard, an Attorney-at-law and Barrister-at-law for over 50 years, practises in both the civil and criminal fields. In 2024, he was honoured as a Legendary Caribbean Legal Practitioner by the Caribbean Court of Justice.

He was also a member of the House of Assembly for 23 years. From 1976 to 1986, he was Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of Christ Church East, and from 1991 to 2003, he was MP for the constituency of St. Joseph.

In 2003, Sir Richard retired from active politics and was knighted in 2006. More recently, he served as President of the Senate from 2018 to 2020, and as Chairman of the 2024 Parliamentary Reform Commission. (PR/MTW)

Top – From Left: Lady Cheltenham, honouree Sir Richard L. Cheltenham, Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley, Minister of Transport and Works and Senior Minister coordinating Infrastructure Kirk Humphrey and Kay McConney Minister of Public Service and Talent Development.(Photo by W. Murray/MTW)

Bottom – From Left: Lady Cheltenham, honouree Sir Richard L. Cheltenham, Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley and Minister of Transport and Works and Senior Minister coordinating Infrastructure Kirk Humphrey(Photo by Wayne Murray/MTW)