Upward and onward we shall go, inspired, exulting, free. – Irving Burgie, National Anthem of Barbados.
Recently I was involved in a discussion which looked at the whole concept of Independence after 46 years. The intention, or so I thought, was to look at our gains since that night when the British flag to which we previously pledged allegiance came down and our symbol of Independence ascended into the night sky at the Garrison Savannah.
I came away from the discussion somewhat concerned that we might have failed in passing on to the younger generations the true concept of Independence. The level of cynicism was worrisome and much of the time was spent on the puerile discussion on whether it would have been better to remain “under the Union Jack”.
Let me admit that we have had some challenges since Independence but overall, we should never lose sight of the tremendous gains we have realized since November 30, 1966. It has been said in numerous quarters that Barbados continues to punch above its weight.
While we, as a small developing country, are barely visible on the world map, we have not been invisible in the international arena. We have not been ashamed to let our voice be heard in major international fora.
It was our first Prime Minister who boldly called United States president Ronald Reagan a cowboy. It was that National Hero who warned us against “being found loitering on colonial territory after closing time”.
More recently, when Barbados was being accused by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development of being a tax haven, it was former Prime Minister Owen Arthur who stood ten feet tall and successfully challenged that assessment. Most recently, Central Bank Governor Dr DeLisle Worrell challenged International Monetary Fund boss Christine Lagarde not to judge all countries by the same economic yardstick.
One might ask what all this has to do with Independence. Sovereignty and Independence give people a new sense of who they are. It gives them a voice where previously they had to be spoken for.
It imbues their psyche with an autonomous attitude that says we have come of age.
Independence, while symbolized by our Anthem, our Coat of Arms, our Flag and our Motto, is not confined to the national canvas on which these things are written but transcends to define who we are as people.
It symbolizes our acceptance of our responsibilities and obligations to chart our own destiny and not be dictated to by foreign entities, regardless of their power and status.
Our Governments over the years must be lauded for fashioning our own model of development and not copying others’. It is to their credit that human resource development has been the central pillar of our country.
While we may now have to confront the issue of sustainability, the fact is that our model of development is now the envy of many. Countries the world over marvel at the idea of education in Barbados being free from nursery to tertiary. They are stunned by the notion of a free drug and health service. At the political level, others would love to change Governments as smoothly as we do without even a pebble being thrown.
But we cannot rest on our laurels. Independence is a process, not point of arrival. There is still much work to be done. While we celebrate our successes, we have to monitor the lingering threats that lurk right under our noses.
Yes, our monuments and highways are impressive. Our educational system is still excellent despite its many flaws. We rank highly among developing countries in the United Nations’ Human Development Index.
Other international indices project Barbados as a successful country. In some respects our per capita income is so impressive that we are ineligible for certain kinds of loans and funding. Even in the harsh recessionary times we are still holding our own.
A former St Lucian prime minister once said:
“In the midst of material progress, there has been a decay in the very core of our society. It has been easier to acquire money than manners.” He cautioned that we must take stock of ourselves before we fall into the abyss of self-destruction.
Our own Ralph Jemmott notes, in his book An Uncommon Currency: “Today . . . Barbados faces a crisis of law and order in a society increasingly characterized by gross indiscipline, downright lawlessness, hooliganism, loutishness, violence and drug abuse.” While some might respond that this is emotive language and even deem the former educator’s view as an exaggeration, the reality remains that our gains from Independence are at risk of being eroded.
It is in this context that rather than engage in trivial debates, we do need to take stock of ourselves after 46 years as a sovereign nation. Unless we do, a new type of colonialism may confront us and ultimately erase our sense of Independence.
• Matthew D. Farley is a secondary school principal, chairman of the National Forum on Education, and a social commentator.