#BTEditorial – Changing of the British guard

On November 30, 2021, we officially ceased our “loitering” on the British premises when we became a parliamentary republic with much pomp and fanfare.

We reference the famous quote of the Father of Independence and National Hero the Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow that the Barbados “Government will not be found loitering on colonial premises after closing time”.

To emphasise the importance of the monumental step taken almost a year ago, another colossus of Caribbean politics Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves wrote an important commentary to the Barbadian people on the occasion.

“You have led Barbados magnificently through an alive constitutionalism, in the ennobling endeavour of establishing and institutionalising a home-grown Head of State, shaped in your people’s own image, likeness, faith, love, and hope.  In so doing, the independent Parliament of Barbados, duly elected by a free people in free and fair elections, and acting in their name, finally exorcised the last formal vestige of the incubus of colonialism,” Comrade Ralph opined.

But we know life for us in this region is a bit more complicated and though we sought to cut some of colonial vestiges that do little for the good of our collective psyche, there are stronger and often more consequential economic, political and diplomatic ties that we must preserve and even enhance, in the interest of our very survival.

Britain has historically been of strategic importance to Barbados, for the title of “Little England” is not happenstance. In fact, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, who leads the ongoing battle for reparations, will argue that Barbados has been so strategically important to Britain, that it is ethically responsible to repay millions and possibly billions of dollars in restitution.

The British are preparing to imminently welcome its third prime minister since 2016 and the third female prime minister in British history. She is Liz Truss, the former Foreign Secretary, who will replace Boris Johnson.

Within the next few hours, Prime Minister Truss is expected to announce her focus on the British economy, seeking to tackle the high energy bills and a desire to kick start the economic growth.

We know how important and inextricably linked the British market is to our main economic driver – tourism. And though Barbados is seen as an aspirational destination targeting higher income British tourists, economic difficulties in this market can still spell trouble for us.

After more than two years of severe disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism players will want to be hopeful that the new UK Prime Minister can bring about some stability in the British economy and restore confidence as the winter tourist season approaches for us.

Even as we try to diversify our tourist markets, giving more consideration to the potential  of the South American and African markets, we can reasonably conclude that any success in those areas will be supplemental to the British market and not a replacement.

The profile of the British traveller has not changed significantly over the years. They remain the group of travellers who spends the most and stays the longest. They also have a great appreciation for the links between Britain and Barbados.

Names like Hastings, Balmoral, High Street, Trafalgar Square (renamed Heroes Square), Scotland District, and Queen’s Park are among the plethora of examples highlighting the British influence in Barbados.

Of course, the sport of cricket and our local cricketing legends represent ties that cannot be erased or subdued.

At the same time, with the new Prime Minister of Britain, there is much we do not know about her and the possible policy positions she might pursue and how they could impact us.

When Boris Johnson led the Conservative Party to ‘Brexit’, there were hints that he could be the Donald Trump of Britain, pursuing strategies that were akin to American leader’s.

Truss has been described by one well-known publication as a “maverick diplomat” when she was the UK Foreign Secretary. While some in the West Indian diaspora have not been pleased with her involvement and handling of issues related to the Windrush Scandal that has impacted many Caribbean people. They were encouraged by Britain to come there to fill the void in many areas of employment from the 1950s to 1981. They and their children have faced deportation from Britain and denial of entitlements because their immigration status was deemed “irregular”.

Yes, we may want to cut the navel string with Britain but there are many other tentacles that bind us from which we cannot so easily extricate ourselves.