The Barbadian community of St Patrick’s in Christ Church has permanently commemorated the distinguished legacy of Sir Richard Johnny Cheltenham through the ceremonial renaming of a local roundabout. The dedication honors the legal luminary’s extensive contributions as a former government minister, parliamentarian, and dedicated public servant spanning several decades.
During today’s unveiling ceremony, attended by community residents, political supporters, and family members, Sir Richard personally revealed the newly installed signage bearing his name while accompanied by his wife and children. In reflective remarks, the former Christ Church East MP characterized his lengthy political career as an “extraordinary privilege” rooted in fundamental principles of social improvement. “It gave me the greatest satisfaction,” Sir Richard stated, acknowledging the steadfast support of what he described as “remarkable people” and “loyal lieutenants” throughout his political journey.
Prime Minister Mia Mottley delivered formal remarks praising the honoree’s lifelong dedication to national service, emphasizing that his impact transcended conventional ministerial responsibilities. Mottley characterized Sir Richard as someone who had “determined that it was his mission to make other people’s lives easier and better” from his earliest days in public life. Notably, the Prime Minister highlighted that many of his most significant contributions occurred during periods as a backbencher and opposition parliamentarian, challenging the notion that only cabinet-level service creates meaningful change.
The Prime Minister specifically credited Sir Richard’s instrumental role in developing pivotal policy institutions, including the original Rural Development Commission and Urban Development Commission, which now operate collectively as the Rural and Urban Development Commission. These institutions, Mottley noted, have enabled more targeted governmental focus on community-level needs that large-scale macro governance often overlooks. She cited tangible improvements including road infrastructure, water wells, and housing renovations that directly enhanced citizens’ quality of life.
Concluding her address, Mottley underscored Sir Richard’s enduring commitment to community institutions and his recognition that institutional frameworks form the essential backbone of sustainable nation-building. “We often take for granted the importance of institutions in building our society,” she observed. “We will come and we will go… but the institutions remain.”