There are ten national heroes of Barbados. These are people who have done their best to make Barbados a better place for us to live. Some of them, like Bussa, died trying to make a difference and others, like Sarah Ann Gill, were persecuted by police. Turn the page to read more about these extraordinary people: Sir Grantley Adams Samuel Jackman Prescod Bussa Sarah Ann Gill Errol Walton Barrow Sir Frank Walcott Charles Duncan O’Neal Sir Garfield Sobers Clement Payne Sir Hugh Springer BUSSA (? –1816) Bussa was born in Africa, but he was captured, and brought to Barbados as a slave. Bussa lived and worked at Bayley’s Plantation in St. Philip. He led the slaves into battle at Bayley's on Tuesday, April 16, 1816. He was in charge of 400 freedom fighters against the troops of the First West India Regiment and was killed in battle. In 1985, when the Emancipation Statue was unveiled, many Barbadians identified it with Bussa in honour of the famous warrior who led the fight in the remarkable 1816 revolt. In the memory of Barbadians, Bussa still lives. CHARLES DUNCAN O'NEAL (1879-1936) Charles Duncan O’Neal was a doctor, who spent most of his working life trying to help the poor. He tried hard to make sure that poor people were able to get an education for their children, and he helped many of then to get proper houses to live in. during this time, many people were treated badly at work, and were not paid much money. Charles Duncan O’Neal helped to put laws in place to stop this from happening. A picture of Charles Duncan O'Neal is on the $10 note while the Charles Duncan O'Neal Bridge in Bridgetown bears his name. CLEMENT OSBOURNE PAYNE (1904-1941) Clement Payne was born in Trinidad in 1904, but came to live in Barbados. During the time that Clement Payne was alive, the poor working people in the Caribbean were badly treated by the government and other people in power. They had no rights, and were not paid much money for their work. Mr. Payne saw this, and decided to spend his life trying to make things better for the poor. He held many meetings, some in Golden Square, to help the poor working population of Barbados see the importance of coming together. He believed that Barbadians could make a difference if they came together and worked for a better life. Because of this, he was arrested, and forced to leave Barbados and return to Trinidad. ERROL WALTON BARROW (1920-1987) Errol Barrow is sometimes called the Father of Barbados' Independence. He was Prime Minister twice, in 1966 to 1976 and again in 1985 to 1987. He also fought in World War 2, in the British Air Force. Errol Barrow helped to lead Barbados into Independence in November, 1966. He made education free for all, so that even the very poor children could afford to go to school. He also made sure that nutritious school meals were available to children. The health service was also made better. Barbadians observe the birthday of Errol Walton Barrow on January 21 as a national holiday, and his picture can be seen on the $50 bill. SAMUEL JACKMAN PRESCOD (1806-1871) Samuel Jackman Prescod lived at a time when there was slavery in Barbados. During this time, the free black people also lived in poor conditions. They could not vote, and the laws were often unfair to poor people. Samuel Jackman Prescod was a politician and a writer. He used his ability as a writer in the newspapers to speak out about the wrong things that were happening, and tried to change them. He did not believe that people should be treated differently because of their colour or because of the amount of money they had. The Samuel Jackman Polytechnic was named after him. He is on the $20 bill. SARAH ANN GILL (1795-1866) Sarah Ann Gill is called the Heroine of Methodism in Barbados. The Methodist church at the time Mrs. Gill was alive was not liked by many powerful people, because it spoke out against slavery. As a result, a group of people burned the church where the Methodists worshipped. Sarah Ann Gill decided to help by having church services held in her own home. This put her in trouble, because it was illegal for more than five people were to meet at a home. She was threatened, and her home was almost burnt. The Gill Memorial Church at Eagle Hall is named after Sarah Ann. SIR FRANK LESLIE WALCOTT (1916-1999) Sir Frank Walcott spent his life trying to get workers in Barbados united. He realised that they were not being treated fairly, and he knew that by working together to ask for improvements, things would get better. Sir Frank Walcott helped to develop trade unions, not only in Barbados, but in the Caribbean. Trade unions are groups which are used to ask for better working conditions for people, such as more wages, and a safe working environment. The Sir Frank Walcott building in Collymore Rock, is named after him. SIR GARFIELD ST. AUBURN SOBERS (1936-) Sir Garfield Sobers is known as ‘The greatest cricketer the world has ever seen.’ He is Barbados’ only living national hero. He played cricket for over 20 years, and was the first man to hit six sixes in one over during a professional match, and held the world record for the most runs scored in a match, until Brian Lara beat the record in 1994. Many things have been named after him, including the Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, and a roundabout. SIR GRANTLEY HERBERT ADAMS (1898-1971) Sir Grantley Adams was the first Premier of Barbados and the only Prime Minister of the West Indies Federation. Before Independence, the leader of Barbados was called Premier. Sir Grantley Adams was a lawyer, and he helped Clement Payne, another of our National Heroes. Some of the things Sir Grantley Adams did were to help improve the education system, allow women to vote, develop the Deep Water Harbour, and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. His picture is on the $100 bill. SIR HUGH WORRELL SPRINGER, (1913-1994) Sir Hugh Worrell Springer was Barbados' third native GovernorGeneral, from 1985 to 1990. Sir Hugh went to school at Harrison College, where he won a Barbados Scholarship. He went on to become a lawyer. Sir Hugh Springer was the organiser and first General Secretary of the Barbados Workers' Union from 1940 to 1947. He was also a Member of the House of Assembly. For the BWU, he had bought properties including the first headquarters at the corner of Fairchild and Nelson Streets. The former GovernorGeneral was married to Dorothy nee Gittens and had three sons and a daughter. Sir Hugh died in 1994.
