Louise Lake-Tack

Dame Louise Agnetha Lake-Tack GCMG DStJ (born 26 July 1944) is a former Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda. She was the first woman to hold the office.

Her Excellency

Dame Louise Lake-Tack

GCMG DStJ
Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda
In office
17 July 2007 – 13 August 2014
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterBaldwin Spencer
Gaston Browne
Preceded byJames Carlisle
Succeeded byRodney Williams
Personal details
Born (1944-07-26) 26 July 1944
St Phillip's, Antigua and Barbuda
Alma materCity of Westminster College
University of West London
Open University
City University

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 October 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
  1. "Caribbean Elections Biography | Louise Lake-Tack". Caribbeanelections.com. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2007.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Court Circular detailing investiture as a Dame of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem Archived 29 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  4. "No. 58510". The London Gazette. 13 November 2007. p. 16431.
Government offices
Preceded by
James Carlisle		 Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda
2007–2014		 Succeeded by
Rodney Williams
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