Biographical Information
ERROL WALTON BARROW, the Father of Barbados' Independence, was born on January 21, 1920 in parish of St. Lucy.
A founder-member of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), Barrow was swept to power as Premier in 1961 and held that position until 1966, when he took the island into Independence from Britain, thus becaming Barbados' first Prime Minister.
Barrow served two terms as Prime Minister, first from 1966 to 1976 and again from 1985 to 1987, and served as Opposition Leader during part of the interregnum which he interrupted for an academic sabbatical in the United States and, as he declared, "to recharge" his "batteries".
The son of the late Rev. Reginald Grant Barrow and the late Ruth nee O'Neal, Errol was the nephew of legendary Dr. Charles Duncan O'Neal, founder of the Democratic League, and brother of Errol's mother.
In December 1939, Barrow won a scholarship in Classics to Codrington College but did not pursue those studies. Instead, he joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) and served with distinction in World War II as the personal navigation officer to the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army at the Rhine between 1940 and 1942.
After his stint in the RAF, Barrow studied law and was called to the Bar in 1949. He returned home in 1950 as a practicing barrister-at-law and became a member of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) in 1951.
That year he won a seat in St. George for the BLP, which moved from 12 members in the House of Assembly to 16, thus obtaining a clear majority for the first time. But his desire to fashion a new political force in the country led him, in 1955, along with Cameron Tudor and others to form the Democratic Labour Party (DLP).
However, he lost his seat in the 1956 General Elections, but returned to Parliament after successfully contesting a by-election in St. John in 1958.
While serving as Head of Government Barrow received many awards. Among them were an honorary Doctorate of Civil Law from McGill University of Canada in 1966 and the Lions International "Head of State Award" for "outstanding service to the country" in 1967.
He was also houseguest of United States President Lyndon Johnson in 1968, was made a Privy Councillor in 1969 and authored "Canada's Role in the West Indies" (published in 1964 by the Canadian Institute of International Affairs).
Some of his more know achievements include:
democratisation of the educational process and expanded free education to all;
- the introduction of a National Insurance and Social Security scheme;
- school meals on an improved nutritional basis;
- improved health services;
- accelerated industrial development;
- and considerable expansion of the tourist industry;
- he took Barbados into Independence in November, 1966.
Barrow also made Barbados a member of the Organization of American States and in 1968, and with other regional leaders, launched the Caribbean Free Trade Area, the forerunner to CARICOM.
Having been selected by the people to lead Barbados into Independence in 1966, Barrow thus brought to an end the long process of decolonisation.
His record of achievement led to his Party’s landslide victory in the September 1971 General Elections, capturing 18 of the 24 seats in the House of Assembly.
After 15 years in power however, he was defeated in the General Elections of 1976 by J.M.G.M. "Tom" Adams of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) after which he spent the next ten years (1976-1986) in Opposition.
In 1986, at the age of 66 years, he again led his party to power, winning the General Elections by the largest ever margin of seats in Barbados' history 24-3. However, he did not live long enough to enjoy this victory, as he died only after one year in office (on June 1, 1987).
He had, however, left an impressive record:
- First Prime Minister 1966-1976;
- "Father of Independence",
- supporter of the UWI and regional unity;
- designer of a modern system of public budgeting;
- architect of the University of the West Indies Campus at Cave Hill, Barbados;
- creator of the Barbados Community College;
- co-founder of the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA);
- inspiration for lowering the age of majority from 21 to 18 and co-founder of CARICOM.
Although Barbados did not have to fight against Britain to achieve Independence, in one of his speeches, Barrow did argue that he would not "be found loitering on the steps of the British colonial office". Many had interpreted this to mean that if there was British resistance to the move towards full autonomy, Barbados would not wait around to beg for it.
We Barbadians now observe the birthday of Errol Walton Barrow, on this day, January 21, as a National Holiday, “Errol Barrow Day.”
For this we give thanks to him and hope that his efforts will never be forgotten.
It was said of him that"He found Barbados a collection of villages, and transformed it into a proud nation."
