Former Labour MP Stanley John Chosen as Governor General

By Val Matthias. Updated 2:22 p.m., Sunday, January 4, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4). 

Stanley Kendrick “Stalky” John KC, a distinguished legal counsel and former political figure, will be sworn in as the eighth Governor General of St Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. The ceremony will take place at Government House, according to an official release from the Agency for Public Information.  

He will succeed Dame Susan Dougan who in late December 2025 announced her decision to step down from the role on January 5, 2026. A Governor General is the ceremonial Head of State, representing the British Monarch. The office holder’s appointment comes at the advice of the Prime Minister.

Mr John’s appointment follows a long and accomplished career in law, he studied at University College London and was admitted to the Bar at Gray’s Inn in 1977. He practiced in London before returning to the Caribbean, where he became widely recognized for his expertise in constitutional law, commercial litigation, and international finance. In 2014, he was appointed Queen’s Counsel, now King’s Counsel, in recognition of his professional excellence.  

Beyond his legal practice, John has advised governments and institutions across the region, contributing to the development of legal frameworks in areas ranging from defamation and insolvency to maritime law. His appointment as Governor General reflects both his stature in the legal community and the confidence placed in him to represent the Crown at a time of regional and global change.  

Standley John served as a Member of Parliament (Parliamentary Representative) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines from 1998 to 2001 after winning a seat on a Unity Labour Party (ULP) ticket. He represented the constituency of East St. George. Before that, he served in Parliament as a senator for the St. Vincent Labour Party (SVLP) before it was merged with the Movement for National Unity (MNU) in October 1994 to form the Unity Labour Party (ULP). He served as a Government Senator in 1983, then as an opposition senator from 1984 to 1989 as a member of the SVLP.

John’s swearing-in as Governor General will continue this tradition of distinguished public service, as he takes on the constitutional responsibilities of representing King Charles III and presiding over ceremonial and constitutional duties in St Vincent and the Grenadines.  

Since independence in 1979, St Vincent and the Grenadines has seen a succession of Governors General who have each left their mark on the nation’s constitutional journey. Sir Sydney Gun-Munro was the first to hold the office, serving from 1979 to 1985. He was followed by Sir Joseph Lambert Eustace until 1988, and Henry Harvey Williams, who acted in the role from 1988 to 1989. Sir David Emmanuel Jack then served until 1996, succeeded by Sir Charles James Antrobus, who held the post until 2002. Monica Jessie Dacon briefly acted as Governor General that same year before Sir Frederick Ballantyne assumed office, serving for 17 years until 2019. Dame Susan Dougan became the first woman to hold the position, serving from 2019 until early 2026.  

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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