What's The Problem With Barbados?
A Big One That Locals Are Afraid To Talk About!
Hi There,
Let me preface this by saying in some ways Barbados is possibly the most progressive country in Caribbean. It was the first CARICOM nation to become a Republic, renouncing its ties to the British monarchy and has led the charge in seeking reparations. Furthermore, it has the strongest economy in the Caribbean with an exchange rate of the US dollar that is 2 to 1.
On the other hand, Barbados has a serious classism problem plagued by its obsession with academics which is creating a local PR crisis that is quickly becoming global. Hot off the heals of the Paris Olympics, I thought about the Caribbean countries that made a splash at the games. Julien Alfred comes to mind for taking home the first ever medal for St. Lucia, a gold one to boot! Next was, Thea LaFond, who took the first medal in history for the small nation of Dominica, with a population of 70,000. Imagine that, their first medal, a gold one. These incredible young women became the National Heroes of their small island nations overnight. Of course, Jamaica won a total of 6 medals gaining its first gold for the men’s discus throw. All of these incredible athletes have been wildly praised and celebrated by their homelands. As they should!
In contrast, Barbados has had a few world-famous athletes, but you wouldn’t know it. Let’s take a look at track star Obadele Thompson, who won a bronze medal in the men’s 100 meter in Sydney. Thompson should be celebrated as the only Barbadian to ever win an Olympic medal, but instead, when they built a new stadium, they named it after Usain Bolt, Jamaica’s hero. And the few prizes Thompson did get? They were all donated by private citizens. So much for Barbados leveraging his celebrity for local & international PR.
Obadele Thompson - Image via CBC
The response is definitely acute to Barbados. Jamaica always praises its local talent, From Bob Marley to Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. They are a nation that is proud of its exports regardless of industry. In the minds of the average Jamaican, a win for one is a win for all. In Trinidad & Tobago, Machel Montano is known as the “King of Soca” & they are always promoting their greatest export, Soca music. Let’s not talk about when their national football team the Soca Warriors makes it to the World Cup. I can hear the Trinis now chanting their favorite motto, “Trini to di world”.
Next, we take a look at Bernard Sealy, a world-class body builder from Barbados who won the Mr. Universe body building competition for Barbados in Paris back in the late 80s. Yet, there are many Millennial & Gen Z locals who have never heard of him. Yet, he was the first Barbadian National to win the Mr. Universe competition FOR Barbados in Paris, France in 1987.
Barbadian Bodybuilder- Mr. Universe - Bernard Sealy
However, he has never received any significant recognition. In fact, I have it on good authority, that when they did offer him an award, he was expected to pay his own expenses to get there.
Well, there is a short list of official national heroes in Barbados. A total of eleven to be exact. Yep, short. Nine are no longer in the land of the living AND get this, with the exception of Rihanna, they were all born before the year of 1940! Eight were politicians, one was Bussa, an enslaved man who led a revolt that helped abolish slavery in Barbados, and the other is Sir Garfield Sobers, a cricketer whose career peaked in the 60s. So much for Obadele Thompson & Bernard Sealy huh?!
There’s a culture in Barbados that turns its nose up against creatives. An unspoken ideology that unless you have graduated from university, you “ain’t nobody”. Rihanna is not only Barbados’ first billionaire but the first billionaire in the ENTIRE Caribbean. Despite her immense global success and the way she’s put Barbados on the map, her recognition on the island feels minimal. A modest photo at the national airport and the renaming of her childhood street to “Rihanna Drive” hardly reflect the impact she’s made worldwide.
I think it’s time for Barbados to reassess its approach and ensure that its national talent, who bring honor and pride to the island, are celebrated and recognized for their contributions. After all, they’re not just representing themselves—they’re Barbados wherever they go.