SISTER PATRICIA ANN DOUGLAS (in photo), SJC principal of St Joseph 's Convent, Mesopotamia, St Vincent, was killed in an accident in St George, Barbados, Friday night.

She was involved in a four-vehicle smash-up around Boarded Hall/Carmichael, junction. Sr Patricia Ann was principal of St Joseph 's Convent, a leading co-ed secondary school in St Vincent , for over 30 years.

She was the sister of Dominica's former Prime Minister, the late Rosie Douglas, and former opposition leader, Michael Douglas.

“Sr Pat”, as she was affectionately known, had been battling cancer for the past two years. She was well known for her tireless work to advance the children of St Vincent .

She was described as a principled, strong-willed advocate for the rights of women and girls.

She was also said to be the only Vincentian school principal to admit or re-admit teenaged mothers to school.

Sr Pat led scores of parents, teachers and students of the three Catholic-run secondary schools in St Vincent in a silent protest march in Kingstown on November 17, 1999 to protest being treated “like second class citizens” by the government.

Sr Pat was travelling with her two sisters, Joyce Dear, who lives in Barbados and Jacqueline Douglas, who had come from Dominica .

Both sisters suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries.

Three other persons, including a five-year-old boy were also involved in the accident.

Sr Patricia's body was due to be transported to St Vincent on Friday, May 27. On Saturday 28, a service was planned for 10.00 a.m. at the Kingstown Cathedral for children, principally from the Mesopotamia Convent School.

Plans were for Sr Patricia's body to lie in State, following which a Memorial Mass would be celebrated at 2.00 p.m. After this ceremony, the body was due to be taken back to the Funeral Home to be transported to Dominica.

On Saturday, June 4 in Portsmouth, Dominica at 2.00 p.m. there will be the Burial Service: Holy Mass, followed by interment of the body in the Douglas Family Cemetery in Portsmouth.

The Catholic News extends prayerful condolences to the diocese of Kingstown & the Grenadines, the Cluny Sisters and the family of Sr Patricia Ann.

May she rest in peace

(With information taken from the May 22 online edition of the Barbados Nation.)