Appreciate ‘Father of Independence’

Appreciate the Father of Independence, the late Errol Walton Barrow and all that he did for the country.

This was one of the messages that the General Secretary of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), George Pilgrim gave to those who were gathered yesterday at the party’s headquarters for the unveiling of the plaque to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the passing of The Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow.

“Crisis is a chance for learning more about the DNA of a people. Today as we celebrate his memory. Our country is also asked to re-order its priorities and adjust. The debate for Barbadians as a society will be a choice of what is good for Barbados and its future. Barbadians should (be) appreciative (that) this country was built out of crisis.”

He said that even though the causes for which they must advocate for have changed from one of making sure that the masses had access to basic human rights such as education and health care to what kind of country we want to build for future generations, the more equitable distribution of wealth for the citizens still remains at the centre.

“A crisis reflected in our history of who should control the command of the economy and how to access for a bigger population. Granted the struggle today may not be about free education or health care but more importantly what kind of Barbados can we afford. Errol Barrow and his memory cannot be separated from the history of the region or Barbados. Today we thank his family and honour his memory.”

The DLP General Secretary stated that in spite of all of his great accomplishments, he was a private man with a multifaceted disposition and this could best be seen in the relationship that he had with the media.

Pilgrim stated, “Despite this, Barrow appeared to have had a complex personality and this was best borne out in his relationship with the media. ‘If the media do not make you, they cannot break you, consequently even well-meaning and honest journalists find it difficult to secure interviews or responses from me as they will all confirm, chiefly because in public life, I am a private person. If my name never appears in the press, even if I won a prize of great value I would remain completely unconcerned.’ Today with the advent of social media the issue of privacy can be debated.”