Barbadians share mixed views on Independence Day name change

There have been mixed views from Barbadians on the Government’s decision to observe November 30 as Barbados National Day.

Home Affairs Minister Wilfred Abrahams announced at a press conference on Tuesday that from this year onward, the day would be known as Barbados National Day to commemorate both Independence Day and the country’s transition to a parliamentary republic.

A Barbados TODAY team took to the streets on Wednesday to get residents’ reactions to the decision.

Donna Brinkman

“I think that we should keep Independence Day, due to the fact that it has a lot of meaning to us. Not that we just came along hearing [about] independence, but it has a history, so we should keep Independence Day. The other name, Barbados National Day, we should do that probably the day after but let us stick with Independence Day. It has a lot of meaning to us Bajan people…. It goes deep.”

Mario

“To be honest, the National Day doesn’t really sound [good]…. Sounds more like the overseas countries, sounds like we are following [other] countries so I don’t like that; that means we are not original. I liked Independence Day because it let people know that we are independent. National Day is like every other day; we are not being unique.”

Ricardo Walcott

“I just came in from the [United] States Monday and I just heard about this this morning from my wife…. I don’t think we should change it to Barbados National Day. I think that we should keep the heritage of Barbados’ independence because that was the beginning of us separating ourselves or getting free from England and having our own independence. So I think the word independence is a very strong word [that] we should stick with instead of Barbados National Day.”

John Gay

“I see nothing wrong with it…. Everything has to change, something has to change sometime. There was a time Barbados was in independence, that time has come and gone, and now Barbados is a republic, so you change the name from independence to Barbados National Day. That is alright to me, I see nothing wrong with it. Yes, the Prime Minister could have asked what people think about it, but if it’s [changed now] you can’t do nothing with it.”

There was also support for the change as well as disagreement with it on Barbados TODAY’s social media pages.

Andrew Grant

“Hogwash! Most countries in the world have a separate Independence Day and a Republic Day. Even the great USA has an Independence Day. Long stupse, short stupse, big stupse, flat stupse, NO!”

Millicent Barker

“National day all the way.”

Joseph Hackett

“Independence should remain as it is and name Republic [Day] that.”

Heather Cole

November 30th can only be Independence Day. The formation of the republic completed the Independence process. Why undermine the significance of that day or the process? The next generation will not understand what it means. It will also belittle the legacy of Errol Walton Barrow. Whoever came up with this truly does not understand. Republic Day or whatever they choose to call it must be celebrated on another day.”