The main opposition Democratic Labor Party (DLP), led by Sandiford, issued a statement on its official Facebook page saying that the ‘DLP family mourns the death of Sir Lloyd, 1937 – 2023, former Prime Minister of the Barbados and Leader of the Democratic Labor Party”. Party.” Sandiford led the DLP from 1987 until his death in 2023.
After the economic crisis that hit in the early 1990s, the party claimed that Sir Lloyd was the first to seriously begin the process of restructuring and repositioning the economy. “Much will be written about the passing of Sir Lloyd, his tenure as Barbados’ fourth Prime Minister, his involvement in the development of the Democratic Labor Party, the modernization of education and the restructuring of the economy of Barbados. Barbados, and in his later years he opened doors in China as the country’s first ambassador to China. These are just some of the things that will be written about him. “However, what it must be affirmed and forcefully recalled about our statesman that, at bottom, Sir Lloyd was a Barbadian patriot.
He left public life with an impeccable character and reputation, having always prioritized the needs of his country above all else. If you Google the terms ‘patriot’ and ‘country builder’, you will find his name and a picture of him associated with those terms,” the DLP said. Sir Lloyd was long considered the most important education minister after independence, particularly for the development of Barbados Community College and the opening of new primary and secondary schools, before rising to the highest political office the day Prime Minister Errol Barrow died. June 1, 1987. This is the day Sir Lloyd became Prime Minister of Barbados.
His inspiration, the creation of Sherbourne as a national examination centre, eventually led to the construction of the most prestigious convention center on the island, which now bears his name and is known as the Lloyd Erksine Sandiford Conference Center. Mottley, who is currently on an official visit to China, paid tribute to him saying: “It is with a sense of deep sadness that I say goodbye to another Barbadian nation builder, a true statesman and without no doubt a true post gentleman -the independence of Barbadian politics.Mottley said this while on the road in China.
Mottley said the late former prime minister, who was affectionately known as Sandi and was Barbados’ fourth head of government, had the distinction of having a political career that spanned more than three decades without a single case in which bad behavior or the use of the robust language and colorful metaphors that are so common in Caribbean politics were attached to his name. Sandi served as Barbados’ fourth head of government.
