Independence Message: Democratic Labour Party

A message from the President of the Democratic Labour Party, Dr Ronnie Yearwood, on Barbados' 57th Independence Day. Barbadians, I take this opportunity to wish all of you a happy and blessed Independence Day on behalf of the Councils and Members of the Democratic Labour Party. I, along with my wife Lucy and son Solomon, are proud to call this land home and join with all families across Barbados in celebrating this our 57th year of Independence. I look forward to seeing many of you throughout this significant day. Independence was born out of politics, so how can it not be political? Independence is more than a moment and more than a platitude. It is the cornerstone of modern Barbados. The idea that Independence should not be political is a short-sighted, not fully understood view, of the struggle and fight that Independence was born out of. The DLP has always been part and parcel of a modern Barbados with the birth of Independence. Since the founding of modern Barbados at Independence by The Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow, the first Prime Minister of Barbados and Leader of the Democratic Labour Party, Barbados has achieved many successes and weathered many storms. I salute the nation builders of this country who have shaped Barbados into the proud and resilient nation of people that we are today. At this time, I know that this pride and resilience are being tested by the harsh economic environment we find ourselves in. The Barbados Labour Party regime has a debt of $14.6 billion that current and future generations of Barbadians will have to tackle long after they are gone from office. In addition, this financial year, they will borrow a further $1 billion. As I walk around Barbados getting to know you and seeking your support, I hear all too often of how many Bajans struggle every day to buy food, pay bills, and take care of their families. Many of you are stressed today and anxious about tomorrow. Will I have water tomorrow? Will I have electricity tonight? Can I put gas in my vehicle in the morning? Will I ever be able to afford my home? How will I ever get out of debt? These are just some of the many worries that are on the minds of Bajans because of the poor performance of the BLP regime. Sadly, these worries, anxieties, and depression are driving a national mental health crisis. I want to help you. The Democratic Labour Party wants to help you. While we are not in a position to ease the VAT, lower the tax, and stop the endless borrowing of this regime, we commit to holding them accountable for the damage they are doing to Barbados. Strangely, in a country run by a regime that aims to be world class, it seems that its leadership has forgotten its national promise to its own citizens to care for its people in making a better life for all Bajans. This should be the true purpose of a government in a democracy. This should be what matters most, not international stages, magazine covers, and monuments to hide the many failings of the BLP regime. When the cameras stop recording, and the lights go off, it is Bajans that are stuck with the bills for the extravagances of an absent leader and a disconnected incompetent regime. That is just a fact. It is time for hurried, poorly thought out, copy, paste, plaster and stick policies of the BLP regime to end. Bajans need real solutions for real change and for real money to be put back in their pockets. I am committed to the mandate I have been given by the DLP recently and to the vision that I will be sharing with you. Together, with your help, it is my vision as leader of the DLP to achieve economic diversification for long-term growth and well-paid jobs. We will make Barbados work to make life easier, build a flexible education system that meets people where they are, and connect them to global opportunities.  We will embrace the diversity of Barbadians and respond to their needs in all forms they take and will promote and protect our environmental capital. I, as DLP leader, will anchor this vision in the family and community values of the DLP, that we leave no one behind in being our brother's and sister's keeper. These are the essential planks of development that Barbados needs at 57 years of independence to take our people to the next level and to achieve prosperity, sustainable development for 2030, and well beyond. In the coming months, I want to continue to meet with you and to hear your views on how together we can build a new Barbados for current and future generations of Barbadians. Although Barbados is at a breaking point, we will never lose hope in our ability to come together to solve our challenges. Having met Bajans from all walks of life, I know that you feel the same. I also know that our pride, industry, and resilience will bring us through this period. Barbados, let us take today to enjoy and celebrate the gains that we have made over the last 57 years. May we spend the day with our friends and family enjoying all festivities, music, food including the conkies with or without raisins, and all the beauty that this our island home has to offer. Barbados Happy Independence Day. God Bless Barbados and each of you.

1. I like raisins in my conkies. Without raisins, a conkie is just cou-cou.