Owen Arthur

The Right Honourable
Owen Arthur
PC
5th Prime Minister of Barbados
In office
6 September 1994 – 15 January 2008
MonarchElizabeth II
Governors‑GeneralNita Barrow
Clifford Husbands
DeputyBillie Miller (1994–2003)
Mia Mottley (2003–2008)
Preceded byErskine Sandiford
Succeeded byDavid Thompson
Leader of the Opposition
In office
1 August 1993 – 6 September 1994
Prime MinisterLloyd Erskine Sandiford
Preceded byHenry deBoulay Forde
Succeeded byDavid Thompson
In office
18 October 2010 – 26 February 2013
Prime MinisterFreundel Stuart
Preceded byMia Mottley
Succeeded byMia Mottley
Member of Parliament
for Saint Peter
In office
22 November 1984 – 6 March 2018
Preceded bySybil Leacock (July 1984 – November 1984)
Burton Hinds (1966–1984)
Succeeded byColin Jordan
Personal details
Born
Owen Seymour Arthur

(1949-10-17)17 October 1949
Bridgetown, British Windward Islands, (present day Barbados)
Died27 July 2020(2020-07-27) (aged 70)
Bridgetown, Barbados
Political partyBarbados Labour Party (Until 2014)
Other political
affiliations		Independent (2014-2018)
Spouse(s)Beverly Arthur (née Batchelor) (m. 1978; div. 2000)
Julie Arthur (m. 2006)[1]
Children2 daughters: Leah and Sabrina [1]
Parents
  • Frank Leroy Arthur[3][4] (father)
  • Iretha "Doll" Arthur[2] (mother)

Owen Seymour Arthur PC (17 October 1949 – 27 July 2020)[5][6] was a Barbadian politician who served as the fifth prime minister of Barbados from 6 September 1994 to 15 January 2008. He is the longest-serving Barbadian prime minister to date.[6] He also served as Leader of the Opposition from 1 August 1993 to 6 September 1994 and from 23 October 2010 to 21 February 2013.

Arthur was a firm advocate for regional integration and cooperation among the countries of the Caribbean.[7] He was described by CARICOM as the chief architect of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.[8] He argued in favour of making the Caribbean Court of Justice the final court of appeal for countries of the Caribbean,[7] and he advocated for the University of the West Indies[9] regional airline LIAT,[10] and projection of resistance against infringement on sovereignty by large nations.[11][12]

  1. ^ a b "Former PM Owen Arthur passes". NationNews Barbados. Fontabelle, Saint Michael, Barbados: The Nation Publishing Co. Limited. 27 July 2020. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  2. ^ Obituary of Frank Arthur Archived 30 June 2016 at the Wayback Machine, CBC Barbados
  3. ^ Obituary of Frank Arthur, Nation News,
  4. ^ Henry, Anesta, ed. (28 May 2016). "Former PM bids farewell to father". Local News. Bridgetown, Barbados: Barbados Today newspaper. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2021. Delivering the eulogy before a packed All Saints Anglican Church in St Peter, Arthur said his loved one, Frank Arthur, who died on May 10 at age 89, treated his obligations as a parent with complete seriousness and sensitivity.
  5. ^ "OWEN ARTHUR: From St Peter to Barbados". NationNews Barbados. Fontabelle, St. Michael, Barbados: The Nation Publishing Co. Limited. 27 July 2020. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur passes away". Barbados Today. Lodge Hill, St. Michael, Barbados. 27 July 2020.
  7. ^ a b Serju, Christopher (28 July 2020). "Owen Arthur a regionalist to the end". Jamaica Gleaner.
  8. ^ "CARICOM Chairman: Owen Arthur a titan of regional integration". Loop News Barbados. 27 July 2020.
  9. ^ "Newly Appointed UWI Professor, Owen Arthur, Calls On Caribbean Governments To Meet Obligations To The University". Pride News. Ontario, Canada. 12 November 2018.
  10. ^ "Owen Arthur: New LIAT Chairman". The Vincentian. 10 January 2020.
  11. ^ Bradshaw, William (19 March 2003). "Arthur Speaks Out Against US War Plans". barbadosmedia.bb. Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (published 19 March 2013). Archived from the original on 1 May 2003. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Caricom makes EPA stand". BBCCaribbean.com. 10 December 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2009.