Independence celebrations: PM Mottley rally Barbadians to continue work to develop country

Thousands of residents and visitors gathered at the Kensington Oval on Wednesday as they joined in the annual Independence Day Parade and awards ceremony to mark Barbados’ first anniversary as a parliamentary republic and its 56th year of being an independent nation.

During her Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Mia Mottley thanked residents for their sticktoitiveness as she called on everyone to continue to be their brothers’ keeper and put their hands to the plough to continue to develop the country.

The Prime Minister also broached the subject of crime, which has become a major talking point for residents and authorities, as she urged Barbadians to better manage disagreements without the use of violence.

Describing guns as “that awful tool that causes so much misery across the globe”, she further indicated that guns did not “walk and talk on their own but can only become useful to someone if someone has the willingness to take it up and use it to hurt someone else”.

“The world is not easy but we do not need to add to our problems. I ask us today, as children and adults, to allow a wrong sometimes to be the last wrong, to allow a dun [breakup] to take place. You just sometimes have to walk away. Since we are at Kensington I can say, you just sometimes have to raise the bat and leave the ball outside the off stump,” said Mottley.

From as early as 7 a.m. people from all walks of life, some of whom were adorned in national colours, started to file into the mecca of cricket for what has been a highly anticipated event on the calendar of events.

During the more than three-hour event, which was dotted with loud cheers and screams, 35 people were given national independence honours, while 250 of the island’s primary and secondary school students were presented with leadership badges.

 

Under clear blue skies and sweltering heat, the near 1,000-member armed and unarmed uniformed groups kicked off the celebrations with their routine marches and displays, which were done with much precision.

The attentive audience was also treated to various renditions, some of which showcased the island’s rich tradition including tuk music along with the Barbados Landship.

In her Independence Day message, Prime Minister Mia Mottley described the decision to make Barbados a parliamentary republic as a necessary one.

Declaring that “it feels good” to be gathering for the annual independence day celebrations at the Kensington Oval after a two year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mottley thanked residents for their perseverance especially during the pandemic.

“I want to say thank you because we can only today be standing because of the efforts of so many tens of thousands of Barbadians to help lift this country and all who lived in it, through the very difficult and tumultuous two and a half years that we have experienced,” she said.

“I come therefore first and foremost to say thank you to Barbadians for allowing us to stay the course, and as we saw in the presentation this morning from the Barbados Landship, to know how to navigate rough seas,” she said.

Pointing out that the world was “in flux” and has been accustomed to change, Mottley pointed out that current times were “perhaps unique” with decline in the quality of life across the globe due to a combination of crises. She admitted that Barbados had not escaped this reality.

“We too, have not sufficiently been able to bring some of our people out of the bosom of poverty, both mental and economic poverty. I say to you that in some instances it is no fault of yours,” said Mottley.

She urged all Barbadians to play their part to help in the rebuilding of communities across the nation, as she acknowledged that not every idea will be accepted and that there will be disagreement from time to time.

Quoting from the latest hit song from songstress and Barbados National Hero Rihanna, Lift Me Up, Mottley spoke specifically to the youth of the country, urging them to “be strong and to hold up, lift us up and see the light and not to be afraid” as they try to cope with the difficulties brought on by the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic including mental and economic anguish.

“We know that for many of you this has been a difficult period that has been unparalleled, but I want to tell you that for many of your parents and grandparents, it is equally unparalleled too. Therefore, we accept that there may be a lot of angst and a lot of mental difficulties that people have in understanding how to cope through these times,” said Mottley.

However, she said, “we come from a proud and a resilient people and that our fore parents have gone through much more on a personal level, requiring sacrifice, requiring resilience and ability to endure oppression and pain”.

“Many of us are sometimes not aware of the burden that people carry. We ask you as we continue to reflect the best values that have gotten us where we have, never to forget that it takes just a pleasant smile or an easy word, very often to lighten the spirit of someone and to give them the strength and courage to make the next few steps,” said Mottley.

Declaring that Barbadians have what it takes to lift the country up to where it needed to be, Mottley said principles such as sharing of burden and bounty and unity should continue to be the hallmark by which to live.

“When you come from a small nation very often you cannot do it alone and it is only through the principles of solidarity and our ability to share the burden that we will make it, but there is one other that goes above all else – the golden rule – to do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” said Mottley. marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb