SIR GEORGE MALLET

GCSL, GCMG, CBE

Governor-General

1996 - 1997

Sir William George Mallet was born on July 24th 1923. He acquired his education at the Roman Catholic Boys’ School in Castries and at the Castries Intermediate Secondary School. Upon graduation, he joined the commercial sector, first as a clerk and later became Sales Manager.

In 1958 he was elected to the St. Lucia Legislative Council to represent the constituency of Castries Central. He thereby resigned from his post as Accountant which he held with a leading business house in Castries. He was first elected to the Castries City Council in 1952. He served as chairman of that Council until 1964 when he retired and was appointed to the post of Minister for Trade, Industry, Agriculture and Tourism. He held this position until 1979 when with a change of government he became a member of opposition in the St. Lucia House of Assembly. He returned in 1982 to serve as Minister for Trade, Industry and Tourism until 1992. Prior to that year’s General Elections he was given the responsibility for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, Trade and Industry. A year later, he undertook the additional responsibility of Ministry for CARICOM Affairs. He was also Deputy Prime Minister. After thirty-eight years of service, he resigned his seat in the House of Assembly.

For his long years of dedicated service, he was awarded the insignia of the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty the Queen in 1989. On June 1st 1996, Mr. Mallet was appointed to the Office of Governor-General. In 1996 he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Lucia. In February 1997, he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. Sir George retired from the post of Governor-General on August 31st, 1997.