Owen Arthur
Owen Arthur | |
|---|---|
| 5th Prime Minister of Barbados | |
| In office 6 September 1994 – 15 January 2008 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governors‑General | Nita Barrow Clifford Husbands |
| Deputy | Billie Miller (1994–2003) Mia Mottley (2003–2008) |
| Preceded by | Erskine Sandiford |
| Succeeded by | David Thompson |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 1 August 1993 – 6 September 1994 | |
| Prime Minister | Lloyd Erskine Sandiford |
| Preceded by | Henry deBoulay Forde |
| Succeeded by | David Thompson |
| In office 18 October 2010 – 26 February 2013 | |
| Prime Minister | Freundel Stuart |
| Preceded by | Mia Mottley |
| Succeeded by | Mia Mottley |
| Member of Parliament for Saint Peter | |
| In office 22 November 1984 – 6 March 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Sybil Leacock (July 1984 – November 1984) Burton Hinds (1966–1984) |
| Succeeded by | Colin Jordan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Owen Seymour Arthur 17 October 1949 Bridgetown, British Windward Islands, (present day Barbados) |
| Died | 27 July 2020 (aged 70) Bridgetown, Barbados |
| Political party | Barbados Labour Party (Until 2014) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (2014-2018) |
| Spouse(s) | Beverly Arthur (née Batchelor) (m. 1978; div. 2000) Julie Arthur (m. 2006) |
| Children | 2 daughters: Leah and Sabrina |
| Parents |
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Owen Seymour Arthur PC (17 October 1949 – 27 July 2020) was a Barbadian politician who served as the fifth prime minister of Barbados from 6 September 1994 to 15 January 2008. He is the longest-serving Barbadian prime minister to date. He also served as Leader of the Opposition from 1 August 1993 to 6 September 1994 and from 23 October 2010 to 21 February 2013.
Arthur was a firm advocate for regional integration and cooperation among the countries of the Caribbean. He was described by CARICOM as the chief architect of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy. He argued in favour of making the Caribbean Court of Justice the final court of appeal for countries of the Caribbean, and he advocated for the University of the West Indies regional airline LIAT, and projection of resistance against infringement on sovereignty by large nations.