Fair Winds, Calm Seas for Sir John
Our condolences to the family and many friends of Sir John Goddard, who passed early Saturday morning at the age of 78 after being taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Friday evening.
For decades, Sir John was a driving force in the family-owned business Goddard Enterprises Limited and in other businesses and organisations. His leadership style could best be described as urging everyone to work together for the good of all – and he carried on that philosophy into public life and politics.
In the past few years Sir John served as an independent Senator – and independent he was – refusing to ignore “balderdash” statements when the truth would much better serve the people of Barbados. He was one of only two Senators with the integrity and courage to ask questions about the GEMS hotels scandal and the lapdog annual reports by the Auditor General that were so devoid of detail as to be useless to anyone. He also attended the Public Accounts Committee and wasn’t shy about his observations there either.
You can read more about Sir John and his life’s work at The Barbados Advocate and The Nation.
Barbados Free Press 
It was with sadness that I learnt of the passing of Sir John Stanley Goddard.
Sincere condolences to Lady Goddard and the entire family.
My memories of Sir John will be of the humility and kindness that he exuded, never too busy to speak to ordinary people.
Sir John’s contribution as an independent Senator should also be hailed as a role model to all of us all that hold democracy dear.
He was never too intimidated to ask probing questions about subjects that concern many of us and keep asking them, even though answers were not always forthcoming.
Perhaps, the biggest accolade that Government can bestow on Sir John’s contribution is to provide answers to those questions now!
Bravo Adrian
The US, Canada and the EU would serve the memory of Sir John Stanley well by a similar townhall visit as is now going on in Kenya with Secretary of State Clinton.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/06/clinton.kenya/
Someone needs to start demanding complete transparency and accountability of these Caribbean banana republics.
I notice Britain had to step back into the Turks and Caicos because of the rampant corruption.
Will the US start releasing the FBI reports that were denied the citizens of Barbados several yeras ago and will they investigate Veco, 3S and all offshore untendered contracts that filled some Barbadian pockets.
Its illegal in the US so does investigation stop once it is poor Barbadian taxpayers who are being skinned alive by their own representatives.
Sir John Stanley Goddard was a true role model for all Barbadians.
What a loss!
A gentleman that’s for sure. May rest in peace.
David Comissiong will be very happy.
Well said by Mr.Loveridge.
Sir John was truly a gentleman, a humble and genuine individual.
Condolences to the family.
Peace
That is the Goddard famy sailboat. Wat up BFP?
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A double Acrostic to express my Sympathy to the Family, friends and all who will be influenced by the passing of Sir John Stanley Goddard
John Stanley Goddard
Just a blue collar worker on the job
One morning he passed by and I heard “Who’s your friend Bob?”
He was always very mannerly
No Bajan could complain of being treated boorishly
Several years now passed and I sit on a board
They have monthly meetings a committee restored
At these meetings he came by to offer his expertise
No one present had his skillfulness and his noted ease
Looking at an agenda he would quickly scope
Every heading and subheading and could say yeah or nope
Yes never came unless he was totally sure
Got encouragement with his decisions and a whole lot more
Once you got him on your side you could feel success
Didn’t worry or wonder, didn’t have doubts or stress
Deciding on new staff members showed his perfect insight
And when he chose, you could rest assure it was right
Retailers, manufactures and all businesses the same
Dread losing this business guru and the irreplaceable icon he became
I confirm that is the old Goddard sailing vessel. Where did you get the pic BFP?
not sure what the mystery is about a photo of the Goddard sailboat ?
Clearly BFP has thousands of readers and many contributors. People can even contribute their own stories. Someone probably sent the photo to them.
Whats the big deal?
A true icon and a gentleman…I had the pleasure of working alongside Sir John about ten years ago and found him to be honest, hardworking and humble…A man for whom his direct reports and peers had the most respect….
Barbados is poorer for his passing…May he rest in peace..
“John Goddard repaired and built fishing boats. He married Elizabeth Brathwaithe. Another Goddard brother Thomas married Margaret Davis and had one daughter Helena Augusta and a son Thomas. John spent two years in the main town where he built a two-masted schooner because it was too big to launch in the Bay where he lived. The boat was named Helena after Thomas’ new baby.
“The Helena’s cargo was never cost effective because the brothers designed and constructed her to smuggle wine and goods from Martinique. The bow spit was low and hollow, so hollow it kept breaking off and low enough that guns could shoot over it. She was doubled hulled and the slap boards were made in such a way that it left a cupboard space all the way around for about a foot and a half. The double decking was so good that the customs men did not ever find the concealed cargo. She landed her contraband in the three bays on the East Coast, which were very difficult to steer – Martin’s Bay, Consett Bay and Tent Bay.