Dame Yvonne Maginley, DCN, CMG, OBE, MBE, OD
Former Governor-General’s Deputy, Antigua and Barbuda
Dame Yvonne Maginley was a Former Governor-General’s Deputy and former Director General of Tourism for Antigua and Barbuda.
Early life and education
Having received her education at the T.O.R. Memorial School, Yvonne Maginley received training in Broadcasting at the BBC Headquarters at Bush House in London and returned to Antigua and Barbuda to be Programme Organizer at the Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Service.
She further pursued a course in Tourism at the University of Surrey that assisted in preparing her for expanded responsibility in the development of Tourism in Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Eastern Caribbean Region.
Career
Dame Yvonne served as Governor-General’s Deputy from 1999 to 2004. She is Former Director General of the Tourism Board in the Ministry of Tourism.
In the early 1950s, Dame Yvonne was elected Chairperson of the first Children’s Carnival Committee. She also chaired the Carnival Queen Committee for many years and served as Secretary to the Carnival Steering Committee headed by Ferdie Shoul.
In 1958, she became the Executive Secretary of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourist Board and served in this capacity for fifteen (15) years. She then assumed the position of Executive Director for the Eastern Caribbean Tourism Association (ECTA) and was responsible for marketing the region internationally, as well as assisting in areas of product development in member countries.
After operating as Executive Director of ECTA for 11 years, she became Antigua and Barbuda’s Director General of Tourism from 1984 – 1997. Within that time, she served under three Ministers of Tourism, namely Sir Lester Bryant Bird, the Honourable Bernard Percival and Rodney Williams.
She played the piano and taught singing at the TOR Memorial High School for many years. She was a founding member of the Community Players and served as its Music Director with distinction. Under her leadership, the Community Players travelled extensively, promoting Antigua and Barbuda to regional and international audiences.
Honours and awards
In 2003, she was created Dame Commander of the British Empire (DCN).
In 2010, Dame Yvonne was awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) for her outstanding contribution to the development of tourism in the Caribbean
Death
Dame Yvonne died on 27 January 2019, aged 89. She was accorded an Official Funeral at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on 12 February 2019, followed by internment at the St. John’s Public Cemetery. |
