The Lord has been the people’s guide
For past three hundred years.
With him still on the people’s side
We have no doubts or fears.
Upward and onward we shall go,
Inspired, exulting, free,
And greater will our nation grow
In strength and unity.National Anthem
We feel the last verse in our National Anthem encapsulates the reason for our success through the years.
We are a small country but extremely proud!
Happy 41st Birthday Barbados
18 responses so far ↓
Bajan // November 30, 2007 at 2:39 AM
Happy Independence Barbados!!!
Khaidji // November 30, 2007 at 6:52 AM
My percept of Independence is setting new standard by which we live, uninfluenced by the pull of our economical peers. If all we do is follow then we are no longer the Craftsmen of our fate. And why can’t we set new standards that others will follow? Are we truly independent when we just flow with the tide and fulfill the dictates of the superpowers?
Happy 41st Independence Barbados
Forty one years and feeling grand
Independence in our beautiful Island
Ready to take on life’s new challenges
Making the best for all social classes
Communities developed from neighborhood beats
Roads transformed from gaps into streets
Assembled buildings taller than mile trees
Favorite businesses trading in securities
Technology integrated to the max
Surcharges replaced by Value Added Tax
Manufacturing is a booming industry
Education free for all, through to University
Now these changes are progress but what does it mean
Our society also grew in the immoral and obscene
Fate can be good and can also be bad
Our concentration must be on our positive to add
Use measures to encourage our people to be
Responsible citizens in morals, alcohol, drugs and promiscuity
Fix laws on integrity, violent crimes and abuse
Alleviate price gouging and professional misuse
The great forefathers sowed pride we mustn’t desecrate
Essentially we are all craftsmen of our fate
Global Voices Online » Barbados: Independence Day // November 30, 2007 at 7:27 AM
[...] All Good and Barbados Underground wish their fellow Barbadians a Happy 41st Independence Day! Share [...]
Bajan Pride // November 30, 2007 at 7:59 AM
Despite the challenges along the way Barbados has done well. Let us continue being vigilant. Happy birthday Barbados.
Rey. // November 30, 2007 at 8:35 AM
I see Barbados as a human life being lived. Who knows where we are going right now ? Yet we sure will know where we are when we get there.
Today is the day to think about and plan one’s own independence be it financial or otherwise.
Love the country of your birth since it is the only one that you can call your own. When this can no longer be done then you have a problem. I think B’dos is beautiful and this is a beauty bestowed on it from nature/God. This beauty for me has nothing to do with population, development, politics or anything outside its own natural state. If I was the only person inhabiting the island I would still be happy here.
Happy “independence” Barbados!
BFPE // November 30, 2007 at 9:33 AM
David/BU,
Happy Independence Day to you and all other true Bajans.
BFPE.
Wishing in Vain // November 30, 2007 at 10:12 AM
Happy Independence Day to you all the family of BU
BFPE // November 30, 2007 at 10:24 AM
No big surprise that BFP has no Independence Day message on his blog.
And why should he? After all, he is NOT a Bajan!
Wishing in Vain // November 30, 2007 at 11:03 AM
Give it a rest you clown bfpe, pity that we do not have a more honest bunch in office to celebrate the 41st Independence with.
Both of the David’s comments were matter of fact and showed up Barbados for what is was under the blp gov’t.
theNickster // November 30, 2007 at 1:20 PM
Happy “Limited Self-Governance Day”!
Happy Independence Barbados! « All About Nothing // November 30, 2007 at 1:27 PM
[...] Independence Barbados! Happy Independence [...]
Crappo // November 30, 2007 at 2:03 PM
Wishing in Vain,
Happy Independence Day to all true Bajans… and to you too.
banned // November 30, 2007 at 10:20 PM
God, I hate local progamming
David // November 30, 2007 at 11:17 PM
Result of the last poll.
Mr. Resilient // December 3, 2007 at 9:59 PM
The Paucity of Credit in Thompson’s Independence Message
I am dismayed at the poor quality of the Independence Day Message submitted by the Leader of the Opposition to Barbadians in marking their 41st anniversary of independence from colonial Britain. David Thompson’s message lacked real substance (as compared with the Prime Minister’s Message), and apart from a brief reflection on the accomplishments of the builders of Barbados, failed to give any credit for anything contemporary. Indeed, the ill-crafted message suffered from a prejudicial quagmire that resonated in a desperate attempt to sway voters into a sense of guilt because the electorate in their wisdom did not see it fit to oust an administration in 2003, which is still taking socio-economic development to unprecedented levels in 2007. Thompson got it wrong because he does not recognise occasion and neither does he respect national symbols – this was not the political platform.
The Leader of the Opposition’s critical message complained that Barbadians failed to follow a post-independent political trend of “renewing and re-energizing itself every ten years.” The message seemed to suggest that “peaceful regime change” ought to be a matter of compromise rather than a victory based upon competitive politicking, merit, and the people’s vote. One must wonder to what extent ‘change for the sake of change’ sits solidly in the mind of Thompson since his focus is not on the fact that we as a country have witnessed many areas that deserve commendation. It is the gravity of the achievements both by the government and the people of Barbados that Barbadians from all walks of society can be proud and therefore reject the empty inundation by the Leader of the Opposition.
For sure, the unemployment rate has been consistently reduced at this volatile time in global political economy to all time lows, a greater number of persons have access to universal education, and healthcare has remained a social priority for the Arthur administration. Beyond the centralising of Barbados’ development agenda on people, Barbados has successfully hosted the Golf and Cricket World Cup fixtures, and there is a growing reputation for Barbados at regional and international levels in relation to good governance.
The small island-nation is making strides in diplomatic arenas and it engages in a proactive way to enhance many agreements on trade and other issues that have implications for all Barbadians. Barbados continues to unfold its developmental agenda to take it to the next higher stage of development, and even if there was a doubt to this fact, the recent HDI ranking of 31st and the gaining of the number one (1) spot for the fight against poverty (HPI) as indicated in the Human Development report 2007/2008 confirms that reality and our reason as a people why we must be proud of our collective achievements.
More of Thompson’s shameful display of non-statesmanship jumped out at me from several other distorted sentiments which included the fallacious contention that “for the majority of Barbadians, hopes and dreams have been overshadowed by fear and despair.” Surely this type of generalisation was uncalled for and the assumption cannot be substantiated in the absence of any scientific evidence (qualitative or qualitative).
I am not even sure why Thompson would end his message by reminding Barbadians to be celebratory while yet calling upon them to be “statesmen and women and do what is right for our people’s future.” There appears to be some confusion because he clearly refuses to set an example of what is a reasonable demonstration of statesmanship while creating a gender split as if to say that statesmen are the reserve of men only. Nevertheless, it is important for us to contemplate what David Thompson really considers to be an exemplary portrayal of a ‘statesman’ and what will he do to encourage Barbadians to uplift themselves. I hope that Barbadians learn from Thompson’s error that they should never make the poor judgement of being clouded by one’s innate ambitions for grandeur without proceeding on a course of genuine service.
Barbadians are matured, sophisticated, and they are usually quite demanding upon its servants for high standards and excellence. Rather than David Thompson the political leader of the Democratic Labour Party descending to the doldrums of partisan by-play, he should make an incisive and substantial comment on how to further the current administration’s drive towards poverty eradication, a fairer distribution of wealth, and the socio-economic empowerment so as to safeguard a better life for all Barbadians. As on many occasions before, Thompson has come up empty because he delivered nothing. There were no “new ideas and new energy” entering the public domain from Thompson. What a tragic shame!
The Father of Independence and National Hero in Barbados, the Right Excellent Errol Barrow invested sacrificially in the future of David Thompson. Little did the national hero know that Thompson would one day be best and appropriately characterised as a politician so blinded by his own vanity and self-created innuendoes that people matter less to him than the magic of becoming Prime Minister. Thompson is choking on his own words and he is suffering from the very gains he may have accomplished by way of “private and sometimes conflicting aspirations.” In essence, Thompson’s ego and dispositions have become his own perils and put in the position of leadership, he now remains his biggest adversary.
Such Stupid Comments // December 4, 2007 at 9:52 AM
Mr. Resilient well said.
Stacy and Dimitrius King // December 5, 2007 at 2:29 PM
Happy 41st Birthday BARBADOS with many more exciting years to come.
Mark fenty // August 24, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Carrying forward the vision for the future of Barbados.
In this global economy, and world wide recession, the leaders of Barbados must map out a new vision for its people and the country. Our nation just 43 years old have made substantial progress in the areas of Education, Health Care for is people,and in Employment, but there is much to be done to ensure that our posterity find they rightful place in the world of tomorrow.
The leaders of Barbados has alway endeavoured to improved the lives of is people; and this is due in part to their commitment to do the right thing, However, there are still many pressing issues that affects the arverage Barbadian on a dailey basis, Affordable Housing, Improvement in the Health Care System, and easy accesss to they Institution of higher learning, just to mension a few. But Barbadian are optimistic and hopeful in their political process, and there is a renew confidence that the Democratic Labour Party, Headed by the Honourable David Thompson would hopefully be the driving force to bring about this change, and put Barbados on the map as one of the most influential islands in the region despite its size and popularity. But as we map out this new vision for Barbados, we have to focus our Energies and Attention on the young people of Barbados,for in them the vision would become a reality, the young people of Barbados just want to be respected and valued as citizens who can contribute to the development of their country. And as older Barbadian we sometime have a propensity to push them aside and disregard they opinion, but their opinion do matter because they are the future generation of this country. The great Chinese Philosopher Conficus once said that a young person should be respected, because some day he may be your equal or superior, so we have to allow our young people to take and active role in government and in their communties. In the Barbados of yesterday, young people where seen and not heard, but we are now live in the Information Age and our young people are exposed to a wealth of knowledge, that could teach the old people a thing or too, so we as the older Barbadian can not push them aside, their opinion matter and we must allow them the freedom to express it.
Barbados on the road to independence
On November 30, 1966 our nation Barbados was born, a nation that was in the hands of the colonialistic British, a nation who people look towards Great Britian and the Queen for its direction, but deep inside of the island of Barbados men emerged who where seeking autonomy and self determination, a God give right that is rooted deep within the human conscience, these leaders had decided that the time was right, and the time was now to disband a plantocratic way of life that had enslave and suppressed the people of Barbados for hundreds of years. But these leaders who where in the forefront of this turning point towards independence, just did want their right to self determination, these leader had a vision for Barbados and its people. Because in their minds was the opportunity to shape and map out that vision that we see in Barbados today, so the future leaders of Barbados must carry on their vision but with a new purpose in mind to continue that legacy.