The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is going ahead with naming the auditorium of its George Street headquarters after the party’s founder, the Right Excellent Errol Barrow, Father of Independence, despite opposition from his son.
But a top DLP official admitted that the party did not inform the Barrow family about the renaming and issued a public apology for the oversight.
“If there was one misstep that we would have made as a party, it is probably not informing the family,” General Secretary Steve Blackett told journalists at a news conference on Wednesday. “As general secretary of this party, I want to offer an apology to the family that this was not done. But certainly, anybody who knows how this party operates would know that anything we do to honour the memory of the Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow is done in a good spirit.
“What we’re doing here is honouring the wish of the highest decision-making body of this party outside of the General Council [which is the annual conference].”
The naming of the building became a subject of controversy in recent days, with the former prime minister’s son, declaring opposition to the decision, stating that it was against his father’s wishes.
Media reports quoted him as stating in a WhatsApp message that the move would dishonour his father.
But Blackett defended the renaming, stressing that it followed “a resolution that was tabled, discussed, debated and passed at our [68th] annual conference here at the auditorium”.
DLP officials touted the renaming of the auditorium as a means of enhancing the hall’s attractiveness for cultural and social activities, potentially generating revenue for the party.
Blackett highlighted the building’s multifaceted use, emphasising its role as a central revenue driver for the party that operates without government subvention. He noted that since the building’s refurbishment in 2018, efforts had been made to repurpose it for various functions such as weddings, parties, dances, and other commercial and cultural activities. The party sought donations and philanthropy to fund the refurbishment and sustain its operations.
“We have been receiving several bookings over the last number of months and, therefore, we have created a new revenue stream in the absence of the subvention where we can survive, pay our bills and keep all of our facilities functioning,” said the DLP general secretary.
Responding to critics, Blackett pointed out other places and monuments honouring Errol Barrow, emphasising that his name had been associated with various significant locations. He pointed to several places of significance and monuments that bore the national hero’s name: the Centre for the Creative Imagination at the University of the West Indies; a Pine, St Michael park; and the statue in Independence Square in Bridgetown.
Former first vice-president of the DLP, Irene Sandiford-Garner supported the decision to honour the national hero and icon, saying that leaders like him deserve recognition beyond their political roles.
“We have to remember sometimes that leaders evolve from political leaders to national icons and when they become national icons, there is a different status attributed to them,” said Sandiford-Garner.
“We are told the anecdotal tales of what our political leaders say and do but when they become national icons, those who revere them and respect them look at them in a different light.”
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
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