Maizie Barker-Welch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dame Maizie Irene Barker-Welch DBE (née Barker; 17 September 1927 – 28 August 2024) was a Barbadian woman's rights activist and member of parliament.[1]
She was born Mazie Irene Barker into a family of clergy, the eldest of 12 children of Rev. Frank H. Barker, a schoolteacher, and his wife, Athalie Aurora Barker (née Padmore). Her younger brother, Rev. Frank A. Barker, and nephew the Rev. Kirk Barker, were also ministers.[2][1][3]
A schoolteacher before entering politics, she taught at St. Bernard's School, St. Gabriel's School, The Foundation Girls School, the Ursuline Convent, and Codrington High School.[4]
She was elected in 1986 as a member of the House of Assembly,[3] and also served in the Senate and Cabinet. She was elected in the DLP landslide of 1986, representing the constituency of St Joseph.[1][3] She was instrumental in the passage of the Domestic Violence (Protection Order) Act.[1] She lost Re-election in 1991.[5] She was President of the (Barbados) National Organisation of Women,[1] and a patron of the Barbados Sea Turtle Project.[6]
Dame Maizie Barker-Welch died at the age of 96. The local media, Barbados Today, called her a "distinguished educator, politician, advocate for women’s rights, and influential public servant".[1] Tributes were made by many, including Prime Minister Mia Mottley.[7][8]