On November 30, 2021, after a near 400-year journey of resistance against enslavement, other forms of servitude and colonial domination, we, the people of Barbados, finally removed the British monarchy from our constitutional affairs; installed one of our very own native daughters as our head of state; and declared our nation to be a Republic!
And as we enter this last week of the month of November 2025, the month in which we celebrate our attainment of Independence and of Republican status, I would like to present my own personal selection of the twelve most significant achievements that our Republic racked up over the past year — one for each month of the past year.
Here, then, is my list:
Reduction of unemployment to an historic low of 6.1 per cent; the creation of a National Jobs Registry to assist Barbadians with finding employment opportunities; and achieving seventeen successive quarters of growth in the economy of Barbados
Construction of the new Barbados Institute of Food and Agriculture at Hope plantation in the parish of St Lucy, along with a new Tissue Culture Lab, and facilitating the University of the West Indies (The UWI) in the construction of an Agricultural Research Park at Dukes in St Thomas as part of a more science-driven approach to agriculture in Barbados
Creation of the visionary Debt for Climate Resilience swap, by virtue of which a $125 million segment of our country’s debt service has been redirected towards renovating and improving the nation’s sewage plant and enhancing our national water supply
Ongoing construction of a new state-of-the-art national geriatric hospital for our senior citizens; the granting of paid paternity leave to Barbadian fathers; the granting of monthly social security payments and a non-contributory pension to Barbadians with disabilities; and the enactment of a Disabilities Rights Act for the protection and advancement of Barbadians living with disabilities
Continued investment in developing the largest fleet of electric buses in the independent Caribbean, inclusive of an addition of thirty new electric buses in the month of April 2025 compliments the People’s Republic of China
The building out of a new Life Sciences Park at Newton in Christ Church — a major step forward in developing a high technology Life Sciences industry that will see Barbados manufacturing a variety of medications and vaccines and engaging in bio-technology product development
Undertaking the ground-breaking ceremony in the month of March 2025 for the construction by the African Export Import Bank (Afreximbank) of its $380 million Caribbean Headquarters and Pan-African Trade Centre
Maintaining our foreign policy philosophy of “friends of all, satellites of none” by extending diplomatic recognition to the state of Palestine; publicly denouncing the genocide against the Palestinian people; and standing up for and defending the international law principle that the Caribbean region is a Zone of Peace
Successfully hosting CARIFESTA XV, and using the hosting of that major regional festival to fast track the construction of a new National Performing Arts Centre, a new Richard Stoute Amphitheatre, a new Marcus Garvey Amphitheatre, and a new permanent arts, exhibition and concert facility designated CARIFESTA House
The construction of an international Pan-African Slavery Memorial at Newton in Christ Church, in tandem with the digitalisation of our country’s extensive slavery archive, thereby taking a major step forward in the creation of a new heritage district and industry
Initiating a Full Free Movement Regime with Belize, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines on October 1, 2025 — a major step forward in the construction of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME)
Acquiring and installing new state-of-the-art cancer treatment equipment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), and commencing upon a $390 Million expansion of the QEH.
But even while we celebrate these admirable achievements, we must also have the maturity and level-headedness to acknowledge that there are several areas of our national life that are crying out for rectification, improvement and higher standards. And, of course there is the very troubling issue of gun violence and associated homicides.
It is not surprising, therefore, that in the midst of last year’s Independence and Republic celebrations our prime minister challenged the entire nation to embrace and work on achieving the following five self-improvement goals or “Beacons of Renewal for Barbados”: namely, Citizen Accountability; National Cleanliness; Respect and Empathy for our fellow citizens; Cultivation of a Solution-oriented Mind-set; and Commitment to an ideal of becoming outstanding global citizens imbued with deep Bajan roots and a pride-filled Bajan identity.
It is therefore fair to say that the Republic of Barbados has boldly and confidently set sail and has demonstrated that it is determined to both make its way in the world and to make its mark on this world!
Happy Independence/Republic Day, Barbados!
David Comissiong
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