Barbados Today

Samuel Jackman Prescod

The Right Excellent Samuel Jackman Prescod truly understood the ‘power of the pen’. As a newspaper editor, he wrote scathing articles accusing the planters of pursuing policies which suppressed blacks. Through the printed page, Prescod also sought to unite the free coloured, the apprenticed workers and the poor whites against the powerful plantocracy. (BGIS Library)

Sir Grantley Herbert Adams

National Heroes Day is the birthday of The Right Excellent Sir Grantley Herbert Adams. He was born on April 28, 1898. Sir Grantley would go on to become the first Premier of Barbados and the only Prime Minister of the now defunct West Indies Federation. (BGIS Library)

Errol Walton Barrow

The Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow, often referred to as ‘The Skipper’ or ‘Father of Independence’, was successful in securing many social changes in Barbados during his tenure as Premier and then Prime Minister of Barbados. These included developments in education, health, social security and tourism. He also oversaw the island’s transition to Independence in 1966, becoming the island’s first Prime Minister. (BGIS Library)

Sir Frank Leslie Walcott

The Right Excellent Frank Leslie Walcott was known as a tough, dynamic and principled negotiator with a visionary approach to bargaining for improved conditions for the working population. He served the island’s first trade union, the Barbados Workers’ Union, for 50 years. (BGIS Library)

Sir Garfield St. Auburn Sobers

The Right Excellent Sir Garfield St. Auburn Sobers’ record of 365 runs not out stood as the highest individual test score for 36 years until it was surpassed by Brian Lara in 1994. Sir Gary made that incredible record in 1958 when he was only 21 years old. (BGIS Library)