Barbados National Day is observed on 30 November, and this year the country celebrates its first anniversary since becoming a republic.
This year also marks the country’s 56th anniversary of independence from Britain.
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands.
Barbados became an English colony in the early 17th century. The British brought over slaves from Africa to work on sugar plantations until slavery was abolished in 1834.
In 1937, after much rioting due to poor economic conditions, politician and lawyer Grantley Adams founded the Barbados Labour Party.
In 1955, after the slow progress of the Labour Party, Errol Walton Barrow formed the Democratic Labour Party and worked towards independence.
Independence from Britain was finally achieved on 30 November 1966 after 361 years of British rule. The independence ceremony was celebrated by the first ever hoisting of the Barbados national flag – whose trident represents the split between Barbados and its colonial ties.
Previously known as Independence Day, the government recently announced that the festivity will be called Barbados National Day to incorporate celebrations for the anniversary of the country becoming a republic.
The news came after Prime Minister Mottley declared last year that the move to republican status would not result in any change to the name of Independence Day.
The apparent U-turn led to criticism on social media platforms.
Mottley defended the decision insisting that “Barbados National Day on 30 November allows us to celebrate both the attainment of Independence and the attainment of becoming a parliamentary republic with a native Barbadian as president.”
“The fact is, our Independence from Britain is not being rewritten from our history. We can allay the fears of those who are concerned about that. But equally, we have to celebrate the election of our first president.”
