Former Barbados Ambassador to the UN and General Secretary of the National Union of Public Workers Joseph Goddard has died.

Mr. Goddard led Barbados’ largest public sector union for 30 years from 1973 to 2003 before taking up a diplomatic post in 2010 as Barbados’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

In a tribute, Prime Minister Mia Mottley expressed shock at Mr. Goddard’s passing, having only a few weeks ago bid farewell to his successor at the NUPW, Dennis Clarke.

Ms. Mottley disclosed that she first met Mr. Goddard when she was a young law student at the London School of Economics where he was studying for his Master’s Degree in Industrial Relations and Personal Management.

The Prime Minister noted Mr. Goddard’s role in helping guide the growth of the NUPW and in establishing the Public Workers Academy in the mid-1980’s.

She also praised the former diplomat for his service to the country at the United Nations.