FORMER GOVERNOR GENERAL SIR CUTHBERT MONTRAVILLE SEBASTIAN, GCMG, OBE, TURNED 92 LAST TUESDAY ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` Governor General of St. Kitts and Nevis, Sir Cuthbert Montraville Sebastian, GCMG, OBE, MD CM, FRCS, was born 22 October 1921. Last Tuesday, he is celebrating 90 years of age. Sir Cuthbert Sebastian is the only surviving son of the Honourable Joseph Matthew Sebastian who was a Member of the Legislative and Executive Councils of St. Kitts and Nevis until his death in 1944 and Mrs. Inez Veronica Sebastian (née Hodge). He graduated as a teenager and began teaching in his teens. As a teacher at the age of fifteen years he graduated 1st in the second year in the Leeward Islands. He always wanted to be a doctor and quickly took the opportunity to transfer from teaching to to work as a Dispenser for three years at the Cunningham Hospital. He later qualified as a Chemist and Druggist and worked in the Dispensary. Dr Sebastian recalls that as a young Disperser he was further influenced by the German Doctor Strisiver who had escarped Hitler’s Germany and came to St. Kitts. He recalls that as a direct influence of Dr. Strisiver he began doing small operations even before he had the opportunity to study Medicine. Because of the lack of opportunities during his teen and twenties Dr. Sebastian was not able to further his studies until he was in his thirties. He studied at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick where he obtained a BSc degree and entered Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from where he graduated in 1958 as a Doctor and became a Surgeon. He has served in St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla as Pupil Teacher, Learner/Dispenser, Chemist and Druggist, Laboratory Technician, Senior Dispenser, Medical Superintendent and Obstetrician-Gynaecologist. He was Chief Medical Officer of St. Kitts and Nevis from 1980 to 1983.During the period 1962 – 1966, Sir Cuthbert pursued training at the Dundee Royal Infirmary in Scotland in Gynaecology and Obstetrics He was a rear gunner during World War II in the Royal Canadian Air Force, voluntary Captain in the Scottish Army, local physician to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales (Prince Charles), when His Highness visited St. Kitts in 1973. In addition, Sir Cuthbert was ADC to Premier Bradshaw when Bradshaw went to Buckingham Palace on the occasion of Her Majesty’s 25th year on the Throne. In 1969, Sir Cuthbert received an “OBE” from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Sir Cuthbert was knighted as a Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1996. Dalhousie University honoured him with an Honorary Doctorate of Laws, in 1998, and in 2005 he received an Honorary Doctorate from Mount Allison University On 5 July 2002, Sir Cuthbert received an Honorary Fellowship of The Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) of Edinburgh in Scotland, for his outstanding career and service to humanity in the field of medicine. Prior to Edinburgh, Sir Cuthbert received an FRCS in London. In 2005 the College of Arms granted Sir Cuthbert his personal Coat of Arms. Dr. Sebastian recalls that as a youngster he was a champion athlete who averaged 9.8 seconds at the 100 yards race and would always finish first in any race among equals. He would also finish first in the 220 yards and the 400 yards when he felt like participating in that race. He feels honoured to have had the privilege to be the patron of so many events and institutions and cherishes the fact that he was able to serve both Cricket and Football as Patron. He is also the proud patron of the annual Independence Ball organised by the PAM women’s group as part of the celebrations as an Independent Nation. The event has over the years been held at the Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel. Dr. Sebastian shared with this newspaper that he always loved dancing and while at university he spent time teaching others the art of Ballroom Dancing. We congratulate His Excellency, now retired, and expresses best wishes for many more healthy years.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Oct 2013 17:46:00 +0000
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