Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Officeholder

Sir Frederick Nathaniel Ballantyne, Template:Post-nominals (5 July 1936 – 23 January 2020) was the Governor-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines from 2002–2019. A trained cardiologist and former chief medical officer of the country, he was appointed governor-general on 22 June 2002. He succeeded Dame Monica Dacon, who had been acting in the position after the death of Charles Antrobus.

Early life and medical careerEdit

Ballantyne was born on 5 July 1936, an only child.<ref name="east">Template:Cite book</ref> His father owned a small hotel, and he has described himself as "from a business family".<ref>History Template:Webarchive – Young Island. Retrieved 20 April 2016.</ref> Ballantyne was the first member of his family to attend high school.<ref name="aj">Renée Gearhart Levy, "Physician Statesman". Upstate Medical Alumni Journal (Winter 2013), pp. 16–19. Retrieved 20 April 2016.</ref> On the advice of an acquaintance who had studied medicine in the United States, he chose to attend university in that country (rather than in Britain or Canada, as was usual for Vincentians at the time). He completed an initial degree in chemistry at Howard University (in Washington, D.C.), and then went on to the SUNY Upstate Medical University (in Syracuse, New York) to study medicine. The "sole black individual" enrolled in the medical school, Ballantyne was elected to student government in every year of his degree, and in his final year was elected student body president.<ref>"His Excellency Sir Frederick Nathaniel Ballantyne, G.C.M.G., M.D., D.Sc. " – Upstate Medical Alumni Association. Retrieved 20 April 2016.</ref> He interned in at the Montreal General Hospital after graduation, and then completed his residency in internal medicine in Rochester, New York, followed by a fellowship in cardiology.<ref name="aj"/>

Upon returning to Saint Vincent in 1971, Ballantyne was "the most highly trained physician on the island". He was consequently appointed chief of medicine at the newly constructed Kingstown General Hospital (now called the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital).<ref name="aj"/> Ballantyne oversaw upgrades in the facilities of both the hospital and regional health clinics, with one of his first priorities being to expand the hospital's immunisation program. He also instituted the hospital's Visiting Specialist Program, which recruited overseas medical specialists to volunteer in Saint Vincent's hospitals in exchange for free accommodation in the country's resorts.<ref name="ce"/> In 1985, Ballantyne was appointed Saint Vincent's chief medical officer, serving in the position until 1992. He remained involved in medicine after his official retirement from practising, in a consulting role.<ref name="aj"/>

Outside of his career in the medical field, Ballantyne had business interests in several other areas. Prior to being appointed governor-general, he served as president of the Millennium Bank, an offshore bank registered in Saint Vincent,<ref>(18 February 2015). "Former St Vincent bank operator sentenced to 22 years in prison in US" Template:WebarchiveCaribbean News Now!. Retrieved 19 April 2016.</ref> and also as president of Dimethaid International Inc., a pharmaceutical company registered in Barbados.Template:Cn He was also the founder of International Business Services Limited (IBS), a financial services provider now run by his son, Marcus,<ref>"Our Expertise in Offshore Companies" Template:Webarchive – Dennings (Trustees) Ltd. Retrieved 20 April 2016.</ref> and a co-owner of the Young Island Resort, a tourist resort on a small island off Saint Vincent's southern coast.<ref>Kenville Horne (10 January 2014). "Young Island employees recognized", thevincentian.com. Retrieved 19 April 2016.</ref>

Governor-GeneralEdit

Ballantyne was sworn in as Governor-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 22 June 2002, having been nominated to the position by the country's prime minister, Ralph Gonsalves.<ref name="ce" /> He replaced Dame Monica Dacon, who had been acting governor-general since the death of Sir Charles Antrobus in 3 June 2002.<ref>"Past Governors & Governor Generals" – Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Retrieved 19 April 2016.</ref> Later in the year 2002, in connection with his new appointment, he was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George by Queen Elizabeth II.<ref>Honours and AwardsThe Gazette (issue 56789), 20 December 2002. Retrieved 20 April 2016.</ref> In June 2009, Ballantyne was also awarded a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degree by the University of the West Indies (UWI), as one of sixteen regional figures being recognised for their contributions with honorary degrees.<ref>"UWI honours sixteen of the Region's beacons" – University of the West Indies. Retrieved 20 April 2016.</ref>

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

Template:S-start Template:S-gov Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft Template:S-end

Template:Authority control