The World’s Newest Republic of Barbados Sparkles Rays of Hope

On November 30, 2021 , Barbados officially removed Queen Elizabeth II as its Head of State to become the world's newest Republic.  The Queen was replaced by an outstanding Barbadian  woman,  The Most Honorable Sandra Mason who transitioned seamlessly  from being the nation's Governor General representing the Queen to President in her own constitutional  right. This  signified   a watershed moment for the Caribbean nation that will officially set its own course without consulting the monarch.  It  was preceded and followed by a world class production of song, poetry  dance, memorable speeches of reflection and aspiration and  of a discipled and  colorful display of  military precision that defies description. Magnificent! Awesome! Soulful! Creative! Massive! are all acclamations that when applied  collectively would still not do justice to the magnificence of what the world witnessed -- the excellence of the Barbadian Spirit. 
 
 
Landmarks in the Journey from Slavery to Independence and to a Republic 
 
In December 1966, Errol Barrow stood before the United Nations as the first Prime Minister of a newly independent Barbados. In his speech before the body, which had just admitted Barbados as a member, Barrow famously declared, “We will be friends of all, satellites to none.” In the long road to independence Barbados originated as  one of England's first slave colonies and a hub for the transatlantic slave trade. Then its sugar plantation economy thrived by bringing in  enslaved people from Africa and  transferring profits to its English  masters. Reflecting on this ignominy in his speech before receiving the Order of  Freedom ,  the highest national award,  Prince Charles representing The Queen,  spoke of the "appalling atrocity of slavery" which he said  "forever stains our history". 
 
With the change to a Republic as outlined by the Constitution (Amendment) Bill passed earlier this year, Barbados  officially sets its own course for self-determination. It was revealing to note that a collage of its political history at the Road to Republic celebration, depicted  the contributions of previous Prime Ministers.  Besides Errol Barrow were Grantley Adams before him, and after him, Tom Adams,  Owen Arthur and Erskine Sandiford  whose  presence  at the event was recognized.     It also paid homage to the local but world renowned writers,  George Lamming and Kamau Braithwaite; the professionals and  ordinary people many of whom representing public,  private and civil society  received various national awards including for invaluable contributions to the fight against the COVID -19 pandemic https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-59470843
 
 
The Essence-of the Watershed Moment 
 
Prime Minister Motley puts the watershed moment in perspective  in her November 2020 announcement of the  Government’s intention to become a Republic,  stating  that the decisions of the country’s Parliament and its executive,  should no longer be signed off on by “those who are not born  here, who do not live here, and who do not appreciate the daily realities of those who live here.” In advocating that Barbadians want a Barbadian Head of State she continued by  advocating  that ‘this is the ultimate statement of confidence in who we are and what we are capable of achieving.” Two months after,   the bronze statue of Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, the British naval commander and a slavery sympathizer  which was erected in 1813 by Barbados’ ruling class to commemorate Nelson’s victory over the Franco-Spanish forces, was dismantled from its prominent location in Bridgetown. 
 
While the Republican Constitution has  become the  supreme law of Barbados there is no guarantee that it would bring the elements of self governance or the desired transformation of civic virtue for the common good.  What is necessary is a consolidation of national identity of the citizens  with  historical and cultural traditions; and  moral values, ideals, beliefs with national sovereignty. These  become meaningful   manifestations when  individuals or groups come to believe that they belong to a country as a political community.  The psychological basis of identity politics lies in the feelings of humans that they possess an inner worth or dignity which the society around them recognizes. These revolve around issues of equity and access to opportunities; diversity with inclusion; social protection and security.  The philosophical aspects of this discussion have already been introduced in GOFAD's Blog  that highlighted the profound thoughts  of  English philosopher,  Isaiah Berlin's "Two concepts of Liberty" Inaugural Lecture, Oxford University (October 1958); America's philosopher John Rawls A theory of Justice (1971)  and 1998 Nobel Prize winner for contribution to welfare Economics  Amartya Sen's Nobel Lecture, "The Possibility of Social Choice"  (December 1998).    Their  varied portrayals of identity, nationality and sustainable development have relevance for the future of the Republic of Barbados  and for the Caribbean. 
See GOFAD Entombing Moments of Humiliation with the Ashes of a Disastrous Presidency  7/1/2021”
https://www.globalonefrontier.org/blog/entombing-moments-of-humiliation-with-the-ashes-of-a-disastrous-presidency
 
We ain’t Done the refrain from Cindi Celeste 
 
This vision of a national identity that frames  the context and prospects of the Republic of Barbados  was fully articulated  wittingly or unwittingly by Ms. Cindi Celeste in her profound and prophetic poem,    “We ain’t done.”  Delivered with youthful vigor and passionate commitment, it was  appropriately scheduled and performed following the announcement by Prime Minister Mottley that Ambassador Robyn Rihanna Felix,  the internationally renowned Barbadian singer and philanthropist  was recommended for the award of National Hero, joining Sir Garfield Sobers the only other living National  Hero.   Ms. Celeste looking to the future espouses in rhythmic expressiveness a few takeaways that I recall:  

• The wealth of the nation depends on the health of every new generation.
• Equality of opportunity must be linked to responsive representation.  
• Fostering Inclusive legislation binds the hearts of citizens.  
• Engaging in service over lip service 
• Taking action over  talking  about it. 
• Accepting the baton for freedom passed on "by Bussa [Leader of the 1816 Slave Rebellion] to Barrow  to we" 

 
 
Conclusion: Unravelling Identity 
 
Ms. Celeste’s  poem is worth reproducing in its entirety. Its message “we ain’t done” is a refrain  especially but not  exclusively for the youth.  It  however has left us to ponder  what happens when multiple identities emerge. For me, the major issue is - as Barbados forges ahead with consolidating its national identity,  whither the  CARICOM community?.  A  wise and most revered colleague and friend provided a possible and plausible answer.  He pointed out that consideration be given to the  assumption that compatible or parallel identities are more likely than conflicting identities to coexist and achieve positive results for the new Republic. I interpret this and the received wisdom from many writers on this subject to mean  that:

• Identity implies both uniqueness and sameness. 
• One identity cannot be defined in isolation.
• The only way to circumscribe an identity is by contrasting it against other identities. 
• On the one hand the ‘other’  implies  “marginality”, “lack”, and “backwardness” and on the other,   “the privileged” and “the preferred.”  

 
 As the spectacular fireworks illuminated   the early morning skies over the island in the finale to   an indescribable  Republic Celebration,  my soul like those of many others was  bursting with pride and my mind imagining what the future holds. I said a prayer giving thanks for  this  awe inspiring achievement  of Barbados to  trigger   lessons learned from its Road to becoming a Republic   sparkling  rays of  hope  for a mature CARICOM  project to indeed become a "Community for All".            
 
 
Eddie Greene