Interview with Billie Miller: Commonwealth Oral History Project

Interview with Dame Billie Miller, conducted 12th January 2015 as part of the Commonwealth Oral History Project. The project aims to produce a unique digital research resource on the oral history of the Commonwealth since 1965 through sixty oral history interviews with leading figures in the recent history of the organisation. It will provide an essential research tool for anyone investigating the history of the Commonwealth and will serve to promote interest in and understanding of the organisation.Dame Billie Miller educated at Queen’s College in Barbados, and King’s College, Durham University, and the Council of Legal Education in England. She was re-elected member of parliament for the city of Bridgetown seven times and was appointed senior minister in May 2003, retaining the portfolios of foreign affairs and foreign trade. She was the first woman to sit on the cabinet of Barbados. Over the years, her ministerial portfolios have included health and national Insurance (1976-1981), education (1981-1985), culture (1985), senator and leader of opposition business (1986-1991), deputy leader of the opposition (1993-1994), deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, foreign trade and international business with the responsibility of leader of the House of Assembly (1994), foreign affairs, tourism and international transport (1995), foreign affairs and foreign trade (1999-2008).