FOR SEVERAL YEARS, local business executives have complained about the number of public holidays here. They argued that having to pay employees for these official off-days without earning revenue for the period cuts into their businesses’ sustainability, especially in these harsh times.
Furthermore, they charged that Barbados’ 12 public holidays (13 this year) contribute to the low productivity experienced in every sector. And they have suggested that if these days were reduced, it would send a strong signal that Government was serious about tackling this problem.
Last week’s call for a rationalisation of public holidays by the Barbados Employers’ Confederation (BEC) is a practical solution for a long-standing concern. That this was a reiteration of their governing council’s recommendation made two years ago demonstrates how this suggestion – as commonsensical as it seems – may yet again be ignored.
The fact is, public holidays cut at the underbelly of Barbadian culture and are unlikely to be readily addressed by the political class. They have become part of the entitlement Barbadians feel is their right, which has seemingly been adopted by both political parties. For example, on winning a general election, they often declare the following day a holiday.
It goes even further than this. Two of the holidays – Errol Barrow Day and National Heroes Day – are the birthdays of each party’s founding father. To roll these two days together with Emancipation Day and Day Of National Significance into one agreed day, as suggested by the BEC, would be considered sacrilegious.
The BEC’s rationale that most of these days have lost their individual significance or symbolism, resulting in a significant fall-off in public participation in each, with the younger generation unlikely to participate in the future, is sound reasoning.
Their recommendation that “as an alternative, celebration of our heroes, Emancipation and the 1937 riots can all be merged into the Independence Day celebrations, making it much more meaningful”, has merit and deserves a public response from Government.
The BEC also suggested that with the exception of Christmas and Independence days, all other holidays should be celebrated on Mondays or Fridays. This would remove the disruption in scheduling work when these days fall within the work week. As such, May Day would be celebrated on the first Monday in May as was done during the tenure of Prime Minister Tom Adams. However, on resuming power in 1986, the Democratic Labour Party returned to the status quo as requested by their staunch ally, the Barbados Workers’ Union.
Interestingly, global Christian churches are seeking to rationalise the date of Easter for either the second or third Sunday in April. Apart from ending one of the most noticeable rifts between different denominations, it has been praised as it would allow better planning for schools, businesses and the travel industry as it would boost business.
The BEC’s suggestion would do likewise and therefore is worth public debate.
