Like many of our fellow Caribbean islands, the island of Barbados has a rich history rooted in slavery. However, slavery isn’t the only notable historic event to have occurred in our tiny corner of the world. So on today, Emancipation Day, we take a look at some of the other important events in or history as they occurred in the various months of the year.
January
1st – 1995: Barbados joins the World Trade Organization.
3rd – 1958: Barbados joined ten other West Indian territories to form the West indies Federation.
11th – 1652: Articles of Agreement were signed between England and Barbados ensuring the “Rights of the People,” .
15th – 2008: The Democratic Labour Party wins their first election since 1986, with David Thompson becoming Prime Minister for the first time.
20th – 1999: The Barbados Labour Party, led by Owen Arthur, won the elections held this year by a landslide, winning 26 of the 28 seats .
22nd – 1991: The Democratic Labour Party was re-elected to office despite the death of Errol Barrow in 1987. This time, they were lead by Erskine Lloyd Sandiford .
31st –2010: Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho hosted the Sentebale Charity Polo Event in Barbados.
February
9th – 2008: Sir Elliott Fitzroy Belgrave appointed as acting Governor-General.
16th – 1651: inhabitants of the island declared their independence from the Commonwealth of England.
17th – 1627: The ship William and John arrived in Barbados at St. James Town with 60 settlers and 6 enslaved Africans. This was the beginning of formal colonization of the island.
21st – 2013: the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) won 16 of the 30 seats of this year’s election. Freundel Stuart became Prime Minister.
25th – 1627: Charles I (the former King of England) gave Courten by Royal Letters Patent the proprietary ownership and title to various lands in the Southern Americas. Courten saw this as applicable to Barbados and thus made a claim of the Island.
1992: Due to the international recession of 1990 – 1991, the fiscal deficit in Barbados had become unsustainable. Therefore in February of 1992, the government instituted a stabilization program in fiscal policies with the help of the IMF.
2004: a sea border disagreement flared between Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago after fishermen from the former island were arrested for finishing in the latter’s water. Barbados took the case to a UN-backed tribunal.
2012: The Earl and Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward and Princess Sophie visited the island for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
March
4th – 2007: ICC Cricket World Cup begins in the West Indies.
10th – 1961: The Deep Water Harbour in Bridgetown is officially opened.
11th – 1985: Prime Minister Tom Adams dies.
11th – 1985: Harold Bernard St. John becomes the 3rd Prime minister of Barbados due to the death of Tom Adams.
16th – 2006: The CCJ (Caribbean Court of Justice) renders its first judgement in a case, marking the official end of Barbados’ 170 year relationship with the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
29th – 1981: The introduction of piped water in Bridgetown.
29th – 2005: A riot, accompanied by fire, erupts at Glendairy Prison.
31st – 1979: The US Navy Facility is officially closed at Harrison’s point, St. Lucy.
1938: Formation of the Barbados Progressive League, the precursor party, of the Barbados Labour Party.
2009: The Prime Minister of Barbados, David Thompson, survives a no confidence vote that arose over his handling of the financial crisis caused by the sudden collapse of CLICO.
April
8th – 1982: The President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, visited Barbados, marking the first visit of a US President while in office.
14th – 1816: The beginning of the Bussa Easter Rebellion, the first rebellion of this size in Barbados and the wider region and the first on the island for over 124 years.
28th – 1998: The first commemoration of National Heroes Day.
30th – 2010: the commencement of the ICC World Twenty20 in the region.
1967: The System of Local Government Council was replaced by an Interim Commissioner for Local Government.
May
1st – 1968: The Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) was established. Antigua, Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago were the founding members.
2nd – 1972: The Central Bank established via an Act by Parliament.
14th – 1625: Captain John Powell landed on Barbados and proceeded to claim the island for Barbados.
18th – 1967: Sir Winston Scott appointed as Governor General of the island, the first native Barbadian to be so appointed.
21st – 2003: BLP wins 23 out of 30 seats, allowing Owen Arthur to return for a third successive term as Prime Minister.
25th – 1986: DLP won 24 out of 27 seats in the general election. Errol Barrow returned to office as Prime Minister
31st – 1960: The West Indies Federation collapses and Barbados returns to self-governance.
1675: First Slave Rebellion in Barbados.
1928: The St. Michael Girls School is opened.
June
1st– 1987: The Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow, the Prime minister of the island and father of Independence, dies.
Dame Nita Barrow
5th – 1990: Dame Nita Barrow became the first female Governor General of Barbados.
7th – 1994: Prime Minister Erskine Sandiford dissolves the House of Assembly after a no-confidence vote.
18th – 1981: The BLP, led by Tom Adams, wins the general elections of Barbados.
25th – 2011: The Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison were added as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
July
4th – 1973: A treaty is signed by Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados to establish the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
5th – 1628: The capital of Barbados moves from Courteen’s settlement at St. James Town to Bridgetown.
26th – 1937: Riots erupted in Barbados as a way of striking back against the bad socioeconomic conditions on the island. This particular riot was also fuelled by an angry crowd that were protesting against the deportation of Clement Payne, a Trinidadian of Barbadian decent.
1993: BLP Leader, Henry Forde, resigns from office. Owen Arthur was then appointed leader of the party.
2008: Dispute erupts between Barbados and Venezuela over the delineation of the maritime border, arising due to the launch of a bid for offshore oil exploration.
August
1st – 1838: Emancipation for all slaves.
1st – 1940: Trade Union Act officially came into force.
1st – 1973: CARICOM officially established.
1st – 1997: The first commemoration of Emancipation Day.
20th – 2009: 21 year old 110 metre Hurdler Ryan Brathwaite wins Barbados’ first ever medal at the World Championships in Germany, clocking a new national record of 13.14 seconds to win Gold.
September
Obadele Thompson (left)
1st – 1969: All Local Government services transferred from interim Commissioner to the Central Government.
2000: Obadele Thompson wins Barbados’ first individual Olympic medal in Sydney, Australia, placing third in the 100m final.
October
3rd – 1650: All trade between Barbados and England was halted by a passing of an act.
3rd – 1671: Quaker leader George Fox visits Barbados.
4th – 1941: The Barbados Workers’ union was registered.
6th – 1976: Cubana Flight #455 is bombed just after taking off from the Sir Grantley Adams International Airport.
23rd – 2010: Prime Minister David Thompson dies of pancreatic cancer.
November
30th – 1966: Barbados gained Independence from the United Kingdom.
30th – 2012: Sir Marston Gibson awarded the Knight of St. Andrew in recognition for his contribution to the law profession both locally and internationally.
1751: George Washington visits Barbados. This was his only visit outside of America.
December
5th – 1882: Barbados Tramway Company was officially registered.
9th – 1966: Barbados became a member of the United Nations (UN).
29th – 1990: order came into effect to increase the number of seats in the House of Assembly from 27 to 28. This came into effect upon dissolution of Parliament.
1910: the Tramway Operation was sold to investors from the US and renamed Bridgetown Tramway Company
Have we missed any other significant moments in Barbadian history? Let us know below.
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