Frederick Ballantyne

Ballantyne was born on 5 July 1936, an only child.{{cite book |last1=East |first1=David |last2=Thomas |first2=Richard J. |date=2014 |title= Profiles of People in Power: The World's Government Leaders |page=444 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gJG3AwAAQBAJ |isbn=978-1317639398 }} His father owned a small hotel, and he has described himself as "from a business family".[http://www.youngisland.com/history.htm History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009001650/http://youngisland.com/history.htm |date=9 October 2017 }} – Young Island. Retrieved 20 April 2016. Ballantyne was the first member of his family to attend high school.Renée Gearhart Levy, "Physician Statesman". [http://medalumni.upstate.edu/file/pdf/alumni-journal/A.J.-Winter-2013.pdf Upstate Medical Alumni Journal (Winter 2013)], pp. 16–19. Retrieved 20 April 2016. On the advice of an acquaintance who had studied medicine in the United States, he chose to attend university in that country (rather than in Britain or Canada, as was usual for Vincentians at the time). He completed an initial degree in chemistry at Howard University (in Washington, D.C.), and then went on to the SUNY Upstate Medical University (in Syracuse, New York) to study medicine. The "sole black individual" enrolled in the medical school, Ballantyne was elected to student government in every year of his degree, and in his final year was elected student body president.[http://medalumni.upstate.edu/file/pdf/award-bios/Ballantyne_Humanitarian.pdf "His Excellency Sir Frederick Nathaniel Ballantyne, G.C.M.G., M.D., D.Sc. "] – Upstate Medical Alumni Association. Retrieved 20 April 2016. He interned in at the Montreal General Hospital after graduation, and then completed his residency in internal medicine in Rochester, New York, followed by a fellowship in cardiology.

Upon returning to Saint Vincent in 1971, Ballantyne was "the most highly trained physician on the island". He was consequently appointed chief of medicine at the newly constructed Kingstown General Hospital (now called the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital). Ballantyne oversaw upgrades in the facilities of both the hospital and regional health clinics, with one of his first priorities being to expand the hospital's immunisation program. He also instituted the hospital's Visiting Specialist Program, which recruited overseas medical specialists to volunteer in Saint Vincent's hospitals in exchange for free accommodation in the country's resorts. In 1985, Ballantyne was appointed Saint Vincent's chief medical officer, serving in the position until 1992. He remained involved in medicine after his official retirement from practising, in a consulting role.

Outside of his career in the medical field, Ballantyne had business interests in several other areas. Prior to being appointed governor-general, he served as president of the Millennium Bank, an offshore bank registered in Saint Vincent,(18 February 2015). [http://caribbeannewsnow.com/topstory-Former-St-Vincent-bank-operator-sentenced-to-22-years-in-prison-in-US-24854.html "Former St Vincent bank operator sentenced to 22 years in prison in US"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428165113/http://caribbeannewsnow.com/topstory-Former-St-Vincent-bank-operator-sentenced-to-22-years-in-prison-in-US-24854.html |date=28 April 2016 }} – Caribbean News Now!. Retrieved 19 April 2016. and also as president of Dimethaid International Inc., a pharmaceutical company registered in Barbados.{{cn|date=February 2020}} He was also the founder of International Business Services Limited (IBS), a financial services provider now run by his son, Marcus,[http://www.stvincentoffshore.net/our-expertise/ "Our Expertise in Offshore Companies"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108105214/http://www.stvincentoffshore.net/our-expertise/ |date=8 November 2017 }} – Dennings (Trustees) Ltd. Retrieved 20 April 2016. and a co-owner of the Young Island Resort, a tourist resort on a small island off Saint Vincent's southern coast.Kenville Horne (10 January 2014). [http://thevincentian.com/young-island-employees-recognized-p4605-1.htm "Young Island employees recognized"], thevincentian.com. Retrieved 19 April 2016.

Ballantyne was sworn in as Governor-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 22 June 2002, having been nominated to the position by the country's prime minister, Ralph Gonsalves. He replaced Dame Monica Dacon, who had been acting governor-general since the death of Sir Charles Antrobus in 3 June 2002.[http://www.gov.vc/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37&Itemid=99 "Past Governors & Governor Generals"] – Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Retrieved 19 April 2016. Later in the year 2002, in connection with his new appointment, he was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George by Queen Elizabeth II.[https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/L-56789-1004 Honours and Awards] – The Gazette (issue 56789), 20 December 2002. Retrieved 20 April 2016. In June 2009, Ballantyne was also awarded a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degree by the University of the West Indies (UWI), as one of sixteen regional figures being recognised for their contributions with honorary degrees.[https://www.mona.uwi.edu/marcom/newsroom/entry/3578 "UWI honours sixteen of the Region's beacons"] – University of the West Indies. Retrieved 20 April 2016.

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160423032047/http://www.gov.vc/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=102 The Governor General: Official Website of the Government of St. Vincent & the Grenadines]

{{s-start}}

{{s-gov}}

{{s-bef|before=Monica Dacon
{{small|Acting}}}}

{{s-ttl|title=Governor-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|years=2002–2019}}

{{s-aft|after=Susan Dougan}}

{{s-end}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballantyne, Frederick}}

Category:1936 births

Category:2020 deaths

Category:Governors-general of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George

Category:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines expatriates in the United States

Category:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines cardiologists

Category:Howard University alumni

Category:State University of New York Upstate Medical University alumni

Category:People from Saint Andrew Parish, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Category:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines healthcare managers

Category:African diaspora in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines