Background
Harold Bernard St. John was born on 16 August 1931 in Barbados.
government official politician
Harold Bernard St. John was born on 16 August 1931 in Barbados.
Received his primary and secondary education on the island, then attended London University and earned his law degree at Inner Temple, by age 23.
He opened a successful legal practice in Bridgetown, Barbados, served as president of the Barbados Bar Association, and was named Queen’s Counsel (QC) in 1969.
Active in the Barbados Labour Party (BLP). St. John was appointed to represent the BLP in the Senate. In 1966 and 1970 he was elected to the House of Assembly. Following resignation of Sir Grantley Herbert Adams in 1970, St. John became leader of the BLP, until he was narrowly defeated in the 1971 general election. He was succeeded as leader by John Michael, G.M. (Tom) Adams, son of Sir Grantley. Front 1971 to 1976 St. John was again in the Senate and served in the BLP “Shadow Cabinet.”
St. John was reelected to the House of Assembly in 1976 and 1981. With the BLP victory in 1976, St. John became deputy prime minister, as well as holding several portfolios in Prime Minister Adams’ cabinet. He also served as president of both the Council of Ministers of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific subgroup of Commonwealth states, and of the Latin American Commonwealth subgroup.
With the unexpected death of Prime Minister Tom Adams in March 1985, H. Bernard St. John became prime minister and BLP leader.