Independence or Republic Day? DLP wants to know

Democratic Labour Party (DLP) President Dr Ronnie Yearwood said Wednesday he is seeking clarity from the government on whether November 30 is still being observed as Independence Day or whether Republic Day is gradually taking its place.

In a personally delivered open letter to the office of Prime Minister Mia Mottley, the DLP leader voiced displeasure with any efforts to recognise November 30 as Republic Day. 

Dr Yearwood’s comments came in response to what he described as a prolonged period of silence after the administration endured public backlash last year in its attempt to rename November 30 as Barbados National Day.

Despite the Cabinet backtracking from the renaming at the time, Dr Yearwood charged that some subtle hints for the change are still being seen. 

The DLP, led by Errol Barrow, took Barbados into Independence in 1966 and held the reins of government through six terms and four premiers until it was swept entirely from power and out of parliament in the 2018 and 2022 general elections.

Yearwood said: “This year what we have found is much more subtle attempts where correspondence have been Independence Day and or Republic Day, and the controversy around this still stands. The government has not made a clear position on this, and we thought it necessary that we state the views of the Democratic Labour Party and its membership and the concerns of Barbadians on this issue.

“Independence Day is close to our hearts, it is that simple. It is not National Day, it is not Republic Day, it is not Day of Observance, it is Independence Day, it is that simple. We want to make it clear that it has to remain; there can be no subtle or not-so-subtle attempts by the government to rename the day or to try to erase the memory of Errol Barrow.”

Flanked by DLP officials, including third vice president Felicia Dujon, Young Democrats chairman Tyra Trotman, and DLP general secretary Steve Blackett, the DLP president told reporters Barbadians have made clear their position on the subject and their opinions should be respected.

“There does not need to be any more immortalisation,” declared Yearwood. “We became a republic, that is fine, we take note of that, we respect that moment, but the reality is we are an independent country, it happened, and that is what we want to celebrate. That is what Bajans have made clear that they want to celebrate.

“You don’t see other countries who have become republics and who have been independent try to just tussle and rename one. It’s a very odd thing to do. It’s almost like you are legacy grabbing, and you are trying to build a legacy around something that you did not have a part [in],” the DLP president said.

“You have removed the queen from being head of state, fine, we all wanted that, we all supported that. But the reality is, the heavy lifting and the work to bring this country from that collection of villages that Errol Barrow talked about, to a nation that could be proud of itself was done by that Independence generation.”

Yearwood also said that in support of the party’s concern surrounding the ambiguity of the current situation, they will once again not take part in the Independence Day celebrations.

“We cannot give credence to what is going on, and I think if we had to actively take part, it would be saying that this is okay. It is not okay, and if it takes every year for us to object, well we will object from now till the end of time. Every single year, same process, because we will not just stand by and quietly acquiesce to this happening,” he said.

As the Monument to the Barbadian Family was unveiled in Heroes Square on Tuesday, the Prime Minister made several remarks about the value of family, with which the DLP president agreed. However, he said that Mottley should engage the public in an open discussion about their views on these values rather than “lecturing”.

“I find her off-handed comments, as if she is lecturing to a nation of bad boys and girls, [are] wrong. We are grown-up people here. If you want to have a conversation about the values you want Barbadians to have, have it.

“We believe in family values, we believe in community values, we want those things to matter and to mean something for Barbadians. Does that mean that we don’t accept that change has to happen? Of course it has to happen. You can be progressive, but that progressiveness has to be built on a foundation,” the DLP leader insisted. 

(SB)