BARBADOS' foreign affairs minister has unveiled a new portrait of the first person of African-Caribbean descent to be elected president of the Oxford Union.

The picture of Sir James Cameron Tudor is now hanging in the dining hall of Keble College.

Sir James came to Oxford in 1940 to study philosophy, politics and economics.

In 1942 he served as president of the union and was also the first African-Caribbean to be president of the Junior Common Room at Keble.

As a founding member of the Democratic Labour Party of Barbados, he subsequently became one of the Caribbean’s most influential diplomats and politicians.

Following the country's independence in 1966, he served as deputy prime minister, education minister, High Commissioner to Britain, and ambassador to the United Nations.

Warden of Keble College, Sir Jonathan Phillips, said the portrait signals the college's wish to 'celebrate the diversity' of alumni.

Painted by artist Anthony Oakshett, the portrait was unveiled by Senator The Hon Maxine McClean, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Barbados, on Sunday.

She said: “We are very proud of our former deputy Prime Minister’s achievements during his time at Oxford.

"Sir James was a trailblazer who has left an important legacy."