Governor-General Dame Marcella Liburd was on Thursday advised of the passing of former Governor-General of Saint Christopher and Nevis Sir Tapley Seaton. He was her immediate predecessor who demitted office on Jan. 31.
Dame Marcella has conveyed her deep condolences to the Family of Sir Tapley Seaton on the sad passing. Sir Tapley Seaton had a long and distinguished career in Public Service. He was the first Attorney General of an Independent Saint Christopher and Nevis. He was a former President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Bar Association and the OECS Bar Association, first President of the Saint Christopher National Trust and first Chairman of the joint venture telecommunications Company (Cable & Wireless) from 1985 to 1995.
The Federation has truly lost a great son of the soil. His life was one of dedicated service. He fought and defended the rights of our people. Through his efforts, Sir Tapley Seaton crafted The Constitution and many other pieces of legislation. Our Federation has been the beneficiary of his great stewardship.
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The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis offers sincere condolences to the family and loved ones on the passing of the former Governor-General Sir Samuel Weymouth Tapley Seaton.
The passing of the former Governor-General is indeed a great loss, not only to the family and loved ones but to the entire nation.
Sir Tapley had a long and distinguished career of service to his country and fellow citizens and residents. Sir Tapley Seaton was the fourth Governor-General of Saint Kitts and Nevis from 2015 to 2023.
His legacy is deeply etched into the rich history of our beloved twin-island Federation, as one of our nation’s true statesmen and patriots. He worked relentlessly for justice, preserving the foundations of the judicial system. He was a philanthropist and a great leader who made an indelible contribution to the Federation and the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
He served as a noted Attorney for many years, as a Crown Counsel in the Attorney General’s Chambers and Acting High Court Registrar (1975-1980), and as the St. Kitts-Nevis Attorney General (1980-1995).
He was appointed as one of Her Majesty’s Counsels (Queen’s Counsel) in 1988, and a Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (GCMG) on 9th November 2015. He also had the distinction of being named Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 1985.
Sir Tapley Seaton is credited as being one of the Architects of the Constitution of Saint Christopher and Nevis. His achievements consist of a keen acumen for legislative drafting including the Income Tax Amendments for St. Lucia; the 2001 Securities Act; Aliens’ Landholding Regulation Acts in nine (9) ECCU member territories; the National Trust Bill for St. Kitts and Nevis, and the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College Bill, and the drafting of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Bill, which eventually became the Small Business Development Act (Number 24) of 2009.
In addition to his civic duties Sir Tapley served his country as a member of various boards, national committees, and organizations in numerous capacities including Director of the St. Kitts Sugar Manufacturing Corporation (SSMC), the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and Frigate Bay Development Corporation; President of the St. Christopher Heritage Society (now called The St. Christopher National Trust), the St. Kitts-Nevis Bar Association and the OECS Bar Association; Vice President of the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society and the St. Christopher National Trust; and Chairman of Cable & Wireless (formerly SKANTEL).
The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis is indeed grateful for his unwavering commitment to nation-building over the years. His Excellency Sir Samuel Weymouth Tapley Seaton GCMG, CVO, KC, JP, LLD has positively impacted the lives of many throughout his career and will be deeply missed.
May God continue to provide comfort and reassurance to his family, loved ones, and friends throughout this time of bereavement. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
