Barbados’ National Day

As far as my limited memory goes, public holidays are defined and identified by an Act of Parliament. Therefore for the Government of the day to define Novemebr 30 of each year as National Day effective November 30th, 2022, the following would have had to be done.

1. The PM or another Minister respondsible for National Holidays would have the appropriate Cabinet paper prepared and approved by the Cabinet. Said paper argues the pros and cons of the proposal and would contain instructions for the AG to have prepared the neccessary Parliamentary motion (Bill).

2. At a subsequent Cabinet meeting the AG would present the proposed Parliamentary motion for approval and submission to the Clerk of Parliament for it to be laid on the Order Paper at the next sitting of Parliament.

3. At the sitting of Parliament the motion is read, seconded and may be debated immediately by the members in attendance. Once approved in the Lower House, the Bill is then sent to the Upper House (The Senate) for debate and approval.

4. Once approved at the Senate the Bill is then remitted to the President of the Island for assent. Only then can the idea of a name change from Independence Day to National Day be communicated to the island as being an official act. The Public Holidays Act Amendment 2022 ( or however styled) would be the law of the land.

There can be no shortcuts when attending to matters of national importance that are imbedded in the law and the authority of Parliament.

This is not an opinion on the merits or demerits of the substantive matter of the touted name change but simply a layman’s understanding of the process to achieve such. Whilst much power is vested in the chief occupant of Ilaro Court, even said person, being of sound mind, would not assume any complete authority over Parliament. Even less in a spokesperson.

Perhaps I am totally wrong here or the learned Attorney General’s opinion on the matter was not sought.
– Doug Phillips