Barbados celebrates 58 years of political independence

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Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has appealed to Barbadians to reflect on the sacrifices of those who have gone before and to work together to create a prosperous future for the country.

She was speaking at Kensington Oval on Saturday, during the Independence Ceremonial Parade to mark the country’s 58th year of Independence and third year as a Republic.

Noting that 2024 has been a challenging year, Mottley expressed confidence in the country’s ability to rise, emphasising that Barbados was built on resilience arising from the challenges of slavery, colonialism, and modern adversities including economic pressure, social struggles, and climate change.

It was against this background that she issued a call to action while referencing a quote from the late Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman to run for the Presidency in the United States of America and who was later elected to Congress. Chisholm was of Barbadian lineage.

“’We must see ourselves in an entirely new perspective and cannot sit in our homes, waiting for someone to reach out and do things for us…. That is why I say that we must get up and prepare our own way. That is why we will forever be friends of all and satellites of none, and we accept that smallness doesn’t give us the power to do everything, but smallness makes us nimble, and smallness makes us agile….

“Even as we fought off the ravages of the climate, drought and flooding …, even as we came to grips with what guns can do in our community and inciting panic and fear, equally good things have happened. And our country continues not only to command the confidence of credit rating agencies and international institutions but investors. And you can stand assured that we will always create a space for Barbadians to ensure that they never become tenants in their own land again but forever shall be owners of these fields and hills beyond recall,” Mottley said.

She also reiterated Government’s commitment to rebuilding the fishing industry.

“We had the ravages of Hurricane Beryl devastate our fishing industry and 90 per cent of our fishing industry has been affected. We are working hard with you to ensure that you can rebuild it and the harbour will be repaired. And a new one, regrettably, will still have to be built, because they’ve advised that the existing one will not withstand the new climate crisis,” the Prime Minister stated.

She also highlighted the country’s recent progress, which included the renewing of social services and infrastructure, reinstating free tertiary education for all and reducing the debt to GDP ratio.

Looking forward to the coming year, she said 2025 “promises to be a boom year in terms of activity and energy and construction across this country”. It was against this background that Mottley revealed that the monument, which is to be placed at the Newton Burial Ground in Christ Church, in honour of our ancestors, will be unveiled in May.

She added that We Gatherin’ celebrations will resume next year, after being paused due to the pandemic. The activities will commence in January in St Lucy, move throughout every parish, and culminate in St Michael.

Concluding her address, the Prime Minister made a special appeal to the nation’s young people to foster a spirit of peace. “I ask our young people to remember this day, because it is to you we must turn for the seeds of leadership to flourish…. and I ask you to join us, recognising in the small things that you do at school, how you treat your fellow classmates, how you respect yourself, how you dress, how you behave, how you fight the urge to want to lash out at people and to recognise that there is always a better way to talk things out so that, as we call for peace globally, let us have peace in every sphere.”

Also delivering remarks at Saturday’s proceedings was Democratic Leader in the United States Congress, Hakeem Jeffries. He praised the close relationship between Barbados and the United States, and pledged their commitment to supporting the economic growth and opportunities for Barbados.

Jeffries said this was testament in the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between Barbados and the Export Import Bank of the United States, which secured US$500 million in funding for work on renewable energy, cyber security, water, sanitation, and maritime infrastructure.

“It is hoped that this historic agreement will bring thousands of good paying jobs and tremendous economic development,” he said.

The US Congressman also praised Barbados’ efforts in the fight against climate change, stating: “Of course, we understand that in addition to increased economic cooperation, in order to secure a prosperous future for Barbados, we must address the existential threat of the climate crisis. Like many island nations in the Global South, Barbados is on the front line in confronting climate change, and led by Prime Minister Mottley, you are critical leaders in this fight. It is a fight that we must confront together with the fierce urgency of now.”

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Barbados celebrates 58 years of political independence

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