Louise Lake-Tack

Her Excellency
Dame Louise Lake-Tack
GCMG DStJ
Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda
In office
17 July 2007  13 August 2014
Monarch Elizabeth II
Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer
Gaston Browne
Preceded by James Carlisle
Succeeded by Rodney Williams
Personal details
Born (1944-07-26) 26 July 1944
St Phillip's, Antigua and Barbuda
Alma mater City of Westminster College
University of West London
Open University
City University

Dame Louise Agnetha Lake-Tack GCMG DStJ (born 26 July 1944) is a former Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda.

Background and earlier career

Louise Lake-Tack was born in St Philip Parish, Antigua in 1944. She was educated at Freetown Government School before attending the Antigua Girls High School in St. John's. After graduating she emigrated to the United Kingdom where she studied nursing at Charing Cross Hospital. Following the completion of her studies, she worked first at the National Heart Hospital and later at the Harley Street Clinic.

Lake-Tack later studied and graduated in law and subsequently served as a magistrate at both Marylebone and Horseferry Magistrate Courts. She also sat at Pocock Street Crown Court and Middlesex Crown Court to hear appeal cases from the lower courts. She served as a member of the Antigua and Barbuda National Association (London) for the 24 years preceding her appointment as Governor-General.

Personal life

Lake-Tack is a widow and has two children.[1]

Governor-General

She took office as Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda on 17 July 2007.[2] She was the first woman to hold the office. On 14 August 2014, she was replaced by Sir Rodney Williams, who took office as the 4th Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda.

Controversy

Shortly before Dame Louise Lake-Tack retired from office, she under the powers of her office conferred certain national honours of Antigua and Barbuda on 19 people, including a knighthood on her own son and a medal for her gardener. These appointments were condemned as unlawful by the newly elected prime minister. The Governor General derives powers under Section 22 of the national Constitution and acts as the Queen's representative with prerogative powers. The Governor General is independent of the Prime Minister.

In making the honours, the Governor General claimed that she acted under the prerogative powers. Further, the 2000 National Honours Act provided statutory authority for her independent nominations for the awards and that Knighthoods can only be taken away by degradation warrant if the recipient acts in such a manner to bring the honour into disrepute. Dame Louise publicly explained the reasons for the honours; maintaining that the individuals whom she awarded had been invaluable to the office of Governor-General and consequently awarded.

Honours

On 16 Oktober Lake-Tack was invested as Dame of the Venerable Order of St. John (DStJ),[3] and on 13 November 2007 appointed as Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (GCMG).[4]

References

External links

Government offices
Preceded by
James Carlisle
Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda
2007–2014
Succeeded by
Rodney Williams
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