Why is john redman bovell on the two dollar note?

Answer 1

John Redman was a scientist and agronomist, and is credited with saving the sugar industry in Barbados and the wider Caribbean.

In the 1880s the industry was being threatened by competition from European countries (sugar beet) as well as by drought conditions and disease that were affecting the sugar cane crop in the West Indies. In response to the threat, Bovell conducted experiments at his own expense on different varieties of cane, aban­doning the Bourbon variety, which was the most commonly used at the time, and working with the White Transparent variety.

His genetic experiments established Barbados as perhaps the leading cane breeding station in the world, and made him in high demand throughout the Caribbean. In recognition of his services, he was appointed as Agricultural Super­intendent of sugar cane experiments in Barbados.

In addition to working with sugar cane, Bovell, who was very much in favour of diversifying agriculture, developed several strains of Sea Island cotton.

In 1908, John Redman Bovell was awarded the Imperial Service Star for his contribution to tropical agriculture.

John Redman Bovell died in 1928.