President of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), Dr Ronnie Yearwood, hand-delivered an open letter to the Office of Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley on Wednesday, expressing dissatisfaction with attempts to recognise November 30 as Republic Day.
Yearwood, accompanied by a small group of party members, said they noticed subtle attempts to do so, in spite of vocal protests by Barbadians and a petition he launched last year which had almost 8 000 signatures.
He said November 30 was simply Independence Day.
“We don’t think this is right. Last year we made a point of this and the nation joined us in making a point of this,” Yearwood said from the steps of Government Headquarters on Bay Street.
He was flanked by third vice president Felicia Dujon, spokespersons on labour and education, Walter Maloney and Melissa Savoury-Gittens, respectively, chairman of the Young Democrats Tyra Trotman and DLP general secretary Steve Blackett.
“The Government backed down on renaming Independence Day, but this year, what we have found are more subtle attempts where correspondence has been Independence Day slash and or Republic Day and the controversy surrounding this still stands.
“The Government has not made a clear position on this and we thought it necessary that we state the views of the Democratic Labour Party and its membership, and the concerns of Barbadians on this issue because Independence Day is close to our hearts.”
Yearwood said there could be no subtle or not-so-subtle attempts to rename the day whether it be under the guise of Republic Day, National Day or Day of Observance; or to erase the legacy of the Father of Independence, the late Errol Barrow.
He said the DLP would join the group of Barbadians who would be hosting an Independence Vigil at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Garrison Savannah.
The DLP president said the letter to the Prime Minister also indicated they were waiting on Mottley to indicate when she would engage the party on education, as she publicly stated would be done. (SAT)
