Governor General Susan Dougan to demit office on January 5

By Admin. Updated 10:52 a.m., Wednesday, December 31, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4). 

Governor General Her Excellency Dame Susan Dougan will relinquish her position on January 5, 2026, the State-owned National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) radio announced today (December 31).

Ms. Dougan is the country’s first female Governor General. She took office on August 1, 2019.

The legacy educator and public servant held the ceremonial position as the British Crown’s representative and Head of State.

During her tenure as Governor General and through the Dame Susan Dougan Foundation, she pioneered several projects to empower girls, provide educational opportunities for youth, and assisted the vulnerable.

Before serving as Governor General, some highlights of her public service career include serving as Cabinet Secretary and Chief Education Officer.

According to the Government’s website, Dame Susan was awarded an OBE in the 2010 New Year Honours. She was also awarded a Special Commemorative Stamp, issued for the Centennial Celebrations of the Girls’ High School, in 2011. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of London and a Master of Arts (Ed.), in Curriculum and Evaluation, from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom.

It is not clear who will be appointed the new Governor General as the new government progresses with its transitional period.

A Governor General is appointed by His Majesty the King (the British Monarch King Charles III) on the advice of the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

SVG is a former colony of Britain and currently a member of the Commonwealth. Though the country gained political independence from Britain on October 1979, the British Monarch remains the head of state, represented by a governor general.

Section 21 of the Constitution of St. Vincent and the Grenadines says, a person appointed to hold the office of Governor-General shall, before entering upon the duties of that office, take and subscribe the oath of allegiance and the oath of office.

According to Section 22 of the Constitution, there is also Deputy to the Governor General.

Section 22 says, “Whenever the Governor-General-a. has occasion to be absent from the seat of government but not from Saint Vincent;b. has occasion to be absent from Saint Vincent for a period that he considers, acting in his own deliberate judgment, will be of short duration; or c. is suffering from an illness that he considers, acting in his own deliberate judgment, will be of short duration, he may, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, appoint any person in Saint Vincent to be his deputy during such of the functions of the office of Governor-General as may be specified in the instrument by which he is appointed.”

It further states that, “the power and authority of the Governor-General shall not be abridged, altered or in any way affected by the appointment of a deputy under this section, and, subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a deputy shall conform to and observe all instructions that the Governor-General, acting in his own deliberate judgment, may from time to time address to him; provided that the question whether or not a deputy has conformed to and observed any such instructions shall not be enquired into in any court of law.”

Section 22, subsection 3 states that, “A person appointed as deputy under this section shall hold that appointment for such period as may be specified in the instrument by which he is appointed, and his appointment may be revoked at any time by the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister”.

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