Have you ever gotten tongue-tied when speaking to a government official? Do you get ‘Her Excellency’ mixed up with ‘Your Honourable’?
And what about when writing a letter or an email? How should you address it and what about the sign off? It’s all so confusing.
Well, help is at hand. A guide to forms of address for leading public servants was published on Monday, 8 Jan.
It details how government staff should address certain officials, such as the governor, premier, chief justice, Cabinet ministers, parliamentary speaker and attorney general.
“Local dignitaries must be shown the respect accorded to them by virtue of their office,” the guide says.
“It is essential that these individuals are provided due recognition when they are addressed verbally, in writing and during public interaction.”
First on the list is Governor Jane Owen, who can be called ‘Governor’ in person, or ‘Your Excellency’, ‘Madam’ or ‘Governor’ in a verbal address.
An envelope should say ‘Her Excellency the Governor Jane Owen’, while an official invitation should say ‘Her Excellency the Governor (and guest)’.
A letter should be written to ‘Your Excellency’ and signed ‘Respectfully yours’.
Speaker Sir Alden McLaughlin, can be called ‘Speaker of Parliament’ in person, or ‘Mister Speaker’, ‘Hon. Speaker’, ‘Speaker’ or ‘Sir’ in a verbal address.
An envelope should say ‘The Honourable Sir Alden McLaughlin, KCMG, MBE, JP, The Speaker of Parliament’.
An official invitation should say ‘The Hon. Sir Alden McLaughlin and Mrs. McLaughlin’.
And a letter should be written to ‘Dear Speaker:’ or ‘Dear Hon. Speaker:’ and signed ‘Yours faithfully’.
Click here to read more official ways to address leading public servants.
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