AS BARBADOS REMEMBERS and celebrates its 50th anniversary of political independence from Britain, we are being reminded of other significant milestones which 2016 reveals.
The 1816 and 1876 revolutions were mentioned recently in your SUNDAY SUN of January 3 and must be considered as part of the timeline from which Barbados’ 1966 Independence achievement evolved.
However, 2016 also signals the 50th anniversary of the visit of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie 1st to this island and other Caribbean nations, namely Trinidad, Jamaica and Haiti. After visiting the twin-island state of Trinidad and Tobago on April 19 and 20, 1966, the Ethiopian Airways plane touched down at the then Seawell Airport around 8 a.m.on the 21st, where he was met by Governor Sir John Stow and Premier Errol Barrow.
According to reports from both of the local newspapers at that time, he received a red carpet welcome and was greeted by many Barbadians along the way through Oistins and the Garrison until the procession reached to Trafalgar Square, where His Majesty and his entourage encountered “thunderous cheering”.
Being the monarch of the only independent nation in Africa it was only fitting that he could rearrange his busy schedule to spend about two hours in Barbados and then proceed to Jamaica the same day. The then Premier Barrow and his government would no doubt have been inspired by the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah ashe wished Barbadians of all walks of life, congratulations on their “soon-to-be-achieved hard-won independence”.
— RAS IRAL JABARI
