Sir Paul Scoon dies

Sir Paul Scoon

By Linda Straker

Sir Paul Scoon, GCMG, GCVO, OBE, who served as the island’s longest-serving Governor-General since Grenada gained independence from Great Britain in 1974, died on Monday.

The 78-year-old, who was ailing over a period of time and was hospitalised on various occasions, died at this home in St. Paul’s. He was Grenada’s Head of State for 14 years, from 1978 to 1992.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell, in announcing his passing, described him as a fearless person.

“History will recall that Sir Paul was a fearless man and said it as he thought existed,” said Dr. Mitchell, who gave the assurance that the former Head of State will have a funeral in accordance with the law as it allows for those who have served the country well.

Scoon was born on July 4, 1935 in Gouyave, and had his primary education at St. John’s Anglican School and then the Grenada Boys’ Secondary School (GBSS). He then received an external degree from the University of London before going on to study at the University of Leeds, England and gaining an M.Ed. at the University of Toronto, Canada.

He returned to Grenada to teach at the GBSS, but he moved from teacher to Chief Education Officer and finally became Secretary to the Cabinet. He was awarded the OBE in 1970 and in 1973,
he returned to London to fill the post of Deputy Director of the Commonwealth Foundation. In 1978, he was appointed Governor-General.

By the time Sir Paul Scoon left office, he would have worked alongside six heads of Government and established an interim Government in the aftermath of the collapsed revolution. His memoirs are published in a book entitled “Survival for Service” that provides a personal account of his experiences as Governor-General.