#BTEditorial – Grateful after 57 years of Independence

If there is one thing that Barbadians of all political stripes can agree on is the fact that the citizens of this country have much to be thankful for. We have benefited from successive administrations who have made the development of our people their top priority.

On Thursday, we celebrate 57 years as an independent nation that often wades its way through global crises, natural disasters, economic challenges and major conflicts.

The Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow admonished us to not be found “loitering on the colonial premises”; that we should chart our own path, being “friends of all and satellites of none”.

Having set this country on a proud course of independence, ensuring that we strengthened our human capital through the provision of free education for children through to tertiary level, and advanced several social services, Barrow, we believe, would be pleased that we have accelerated the independence cause.

The country’s first prime minister and National Hero was one of Barbados’ biggest cheerleaders, never once daunted by the thought that our size was an inhibitor to our ability to achieve greatness.

His own personal achievements represented the best examples of Barbadian excellence.

In 2021, this country made another important step in its development journey by becoming a republic, severing a colonial link with Britain and selecting a Barbadian as our Head of State.

While some argued the move was partly symbolic because Britain had no control over our sovereignty, the fact is that the swearing of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II, now King Charles and their heirs was deeply offensive to many.

Having cut the strings that had kept us bound to the British monarchy, many are asking, “What next?”

The path ahead is to be designed and crafted by Barbadians, ensuring that the decisions that are taken are in the best interest of the people of this country.

Barbadians must take the position that this island belongs to us and there will be no one coming to our rescue. It is our responsibility to build the kind of nation and society of which we can all be proud.

During the Independence Thanksgiving Service held last Sunday at the Wildey Gymnasium, the Administrative Bishop of the New Testament Church of God, Dr Kenroy Burke, offered some timely advice.

“We need to learn to be a little bit more thankful. God has been too good to us as a nation for us to have an ungrateful attitude in 2023. Everything is not perfect, but Barbados has been blessed over the years with some of the best and we ought to give God thanks even for the little mercies we see every day,” he asserted.

“There are several others which have more might – financial might, military might – but Barbados still stands tall amongst them.”

This is the kind of blunt truth that must be articulated. This country, with just 166 square miles of landmass, has made significant progress and continues to exceed the expectations of a nation with so few resources.

As we represent with pride and industry, Dr Burke’s valuable advice to us is that we should maintain our identity and not relinquish our “spiritual foundations” and that our progress should be balanced.

Independence does not mean we no longer rely on anyone but that we get to choose our path and the people we want to accompany us there.

And as we embark on another year on this path which we have chosen, we urge every Barbadian and those who call Barbados home to be grateful for where we have reached and do what they must for us to reach further.

Happy Independence Day!