Nita Barrow

Who was Nita Barrow?

Dame Ruth Nita Barrow, GCMG, DA, FRCN was the first and only female Governor-General of Barbados. She was a nurse and humanitarian activist from Barbados. She served as Governor-General of Barbados from 6 June 1990 until her death on 19 December 1995. She was also the sister of Errol Barrow.

Barrow trained as a nurse, midwife and health care administrator, holding a variety of nursing, public health and public administration jobs in Barbados and Jamaica in the 1940s/1950s.

She was a member of the Commonwealth Group of Eminent Persons that visited South Africa in 1986. During that mission she successfully thwarted South Africa's military restrictions, through entering the restricted area of Alexandria township disguised in African garb and head-dress.

In 1980 Barrow was conferred the highest honour in Barbados; she was made a Dame of St. Andrew of the Order of Barbados. She was also awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Nursing.