FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

CREATE ACCOUNT

ERROL BARROW DAY

Errol Barrow Day is a public holiday celebrated annually on January 21st, which commemorates the life of Barbados' Father of Independence and first Prime Minister, Sir Errol Walton Barrow. His contributions to Barbados' development have been superlative and below are just a few of his many achievements:

Main

ACHIEVEMENTS

Father of Independence
First Prime Minister 1966 - 1976
Supported the University of the West Indies
Built the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus
Built the Barbados Community College
Aggitated for social care
Instituted free education
Instituted the school meals system
Improved health care
Instituted the National Insurance Scheme
Supported regional unity
Co-founded CARIFTA - the Caribbean Free Trade Association
Co-founded CARICOM - Caribbean Community

Two years after his death in 1987, Errol Barrow Day was first realised on what would have been Barrow's 69th birthday. On that date, a new $50 note was released with Barrow's likeness and a section of the main highway was officially named after him. In 1998, Barrow was named one of Barbados' 10 national heroes and later in 2007 a lifesize bronze statue of Barrow was unveiled in Independence Square. On Errol Barrow Day, most of the island is closed for business and families and friends gather and celebrate in one form or another together.

What do you do on Errol Barrow Day?

Article and Photos © Caribbean Dreams Magazine

TOP