By Kimberly Ramkhalawan
kramkhalawan@caribmagplus.com
November 30, 2021
This weekend saw the unveiling of the new Golden Square, Freedom Park in Barbados’ Capital Bridgetown. The Park is synonymous with the island’s fight for freedom one hundred years after the abolition of slavery through its fighter Clement Payne, who stood up against white plantation owners who had perpetuated disenfranchisement despite emancipation.
To the Mottley led administration, the opening symbolizes a ‘great day’ in Barbados, and a manifestation of her keeping her promise some 24 years since talks began during her tenure and Education and Culture Minister, when the then amphitheater had to be scrapped among other edifices that stood as a testament of the landscape’s history.
The opening of the park comes timely on the eve of the country becoming a Republic nation, and despite many detractors having asked why the park was restored and built now in the middle of a pandemic and an IMF programme, to which Mottley in her address shared that the ‘lessons of life continue to exhibit themselves from this moment, in the 1930s rebellions they continue and must continue, that regardless of the obstacles and challenges that face us, we shall remain focused on achieving what must achieve as one of the smallest nations of this world, but one of the proudest and capable nations of the global community. Yes Bajans can walk and chew, and we must be able to forever walk and chew, because life doesn’t stop times don’t wait on us”.
To her it represents not just a physical built space, but the interpretation of it that holds a spiritual meaning to the nation as a reminder of who they are. The aesthetics of it was purposed with a wall of memory, carrying the names of every family that belonged to the nation of Barbados prior and after the year 1625.
Mottley reminded those gathered that the journey of building a nation was not built in few days or a few years or decades, but it’s a continuum. In quoting the words of Barbados poet, Kamau Braithwaite who passed away in 2020, “It is not enough to be pause, to be whole, to be void, to be silent, to be semicolon, to be semi-colony”, part of the distance to freedom and independence was not enough. His memory can be found in two prominent places in this park, wall of memory and the ‘Pelting rocks’ that ornament the park.
MP for the city, Lt.Colonel, Jeffrey Bostic who welcomed the park, as ‘one in the long journey to becoming a republic described it as the ‘start of the redevelopment and reengineering of Bridgetown that would ultimately lead to the rejuvenation of the beloved capital city’, saluting Mottley for delivering her promise.
Ambassador to CARICOM, David Commissiong, who also served as the founder of the Clement Payne Foundation, provided the back story to the two-acre park, to which he said represented the stomping ground of Payne, but had now become an acclaimed, respected, national sacred space.
His works under the foundation included the campaign for Payne to be recognized as a national hero, which was bestowed in 1998, the establishment of schools, libraries, community programs, publishing of the biography of Payne, and even the repeal of the injustices upon hundreds of Barbadians for the 1937 riots that were documented in parliament, along with established annual observances of the rebellions.
The park entails several artistic details to which it employed many local artisans young and old to ensure the project represents the soul of the nation. Designer of the Space, Kevin Talma who anticipates the project to further evolve in the direction of local artists, says the conceptualizing of the space took into consideration its urban qualities mindful of its surroundings, with the sea to its front, agriculture to the back, and sculptural elements providing a vibe, an energy and the true spirit of Barbados.
While a bust of Payne is present, several walls also stand surrounding the landscape, including one titled a Rebellion Wall that features antiques that depict the time period of the fights, and what artist, Akyem-I Ramsay, says represents the underbelly of Barbados. He added that while he might be concerned over vandalism, the edifice is said to have employed Japanese Techniques in preservation of the monumental piece they say allows for it to stand for thousands of years. Artist and designer of the Community wall called ‘Shards of Life’, Oneka Small, says the 3D mural represents different people of Barbados positioned along a wave shape, which she says stands for the ups and downs faced in life, getting through challenges and sorrows, and what binds a community together showcasing the human elements to it.
Mottley in her closing called out the list of the fourteen persons who perished in the riots of 1937 who carried out the fights four days after the deportment of Clement Payne to Trinidad and asked those gathered to remember his words of, “we must forever educate, yes we forever agitate, but let us not violate, because the loss of life or the loss of liberty are prices dear to pay especially if we can work together as one people”.
She asked those who came to respect and honour not just the physical aspects of the park but the monumental contribution made by those who gave of their life and liberties. In blessing the park, Mottley asked Bajans to use the park as a reminder to see people, hear people and care for people.
The opening is one of several events the country of Barbados has on its itinerary in the lead up to becoming a Republic nation, on November 30th, the same day it observes its Independence gained back in 1966.