BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The government has announced that November 30 will no longer be known as Independence Day but will be called Barbados National Day to incorporate celebrations for the anniversary of the country becoming a republic, sparking a public backlash. However, Prime Minister Mia Mottley has defended the move.
The surprise announcement came from Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams on Tuesday as Barbadians entered Independence month and prepared to celebrate the 56th anniversary of Independence from Britain, which coincides with the country’s first anniversary of transitioning to a republic.
“Last Thursday, the Cabinet of Barbados decided to henceforth observe November 30 as Barbados National Day commemorating our independence from Britain in 1966 and our transition to a parliamentary republic in 2021,” Abrahams said.
“The national events on November 30 will culminate an entire month of celebrations comprising sporting activities, cultural and heritage-inspired activities, including the lighting ceremony which takes place this [Tuesday] afternoon.”
The disclosure came just over a year after Prime Minister Mia Mottley declared in a national address that the move to republican status would not result in any change to the name of Independence Day.
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