FIFTY YEARS AGO today, Barbados took full charge of its own affairs when it ceased being a British colony on the attainment of independence. It was the start of a journey filled with hope and optimism. The determination was to make the hills and fields of the new nation – then an underdeveloped plantation society – a much better place.
Over the past five decades there have been many challenges but the country and its people have remained steadfast in their mission and have become true craftsmen of their own fate.
Yes, there have been setbacks and disappointments, hiccups and even outright failures along the journey, but the record of achievements and successes over the same period have been simply stellar.
There have been tremendous developments in education – the Barbados Community College, the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic, and the expansion of the UWI Cave Hill campus and at primary and secondary level – are living testimony.
Despite the challenges the Queen Elizabeth Hospital may encounter today, major accomplishments in health care have taken place there.
The improvements and expansion of the housing stock is there for all to see, even though urban impoverishment is still an issue.
The country has been fortunate to have had good political leadership bolstered by strong public and private sectors which have generally been committed to the task of nation building.
Many of our sportsmen, entertainers, educators, researchers and entrepreneurs have all done us proud not only by writing their names on history’s page but by bringing honour and glory to their homeland. But by far the majority of people have remained unsung heroes working tirelessly to build up this country from the community level.
Barbados has become home to many regional and international organisations and by extension a welcoming place for people from near and far.
If there are any regrets, they would be that as a country we have not recorded greater successes with the management of the economy and instituted greater constitutional reform.
Yes, per capita GDP has shown significant growth since Independence. But, almost casting a shadow over these golden celebrations are the fears aboutthe perilous state of the economy. We are running an unsustainable deficit and debt.
The welfare state which successive governments have advocated is now broken.
In the face of it all we have clear choices; either be pessimistic and give up or show that resilience for which Barbadians are renowned, and be innovative in tackling our problems while looking to the future with optimism.
Happy Independence, Barbados.