No Replacement Please

 

 

It is not good, I dare say,

To remove National landmarks

And what the authorities tried to do

Really hurt my heart.

 

Independence Day was to go

To be replaced by the Republic,

This landmark, until public uproar,

Was to be the edict.

 

I recall at some point

The promised of a referendum

But suddenly, a decision was taken

Without public consultation.

 

Well it did not go down well

Given the promise that was made

And the public with one voice

Shouted it was to fail.

 

The Government reneged

Via its public relations setup

And a certain minister apologized

For the unfortunate mix-up.

 

It shows, someone had said,

We are a Government that listen,

Then was certainly not the right time

But it could eventually happen.

 

 

To sneak it in the backdoor

Could be the considered plan,

After all, we have seen such before

When the door was unjammed.

 

If this is the present thought

I say, “No replacement please,”

Independence Day is not nomenclature

So, you'd better freeze.

 

It is far deeper in significance

Than any political party

That has grown too big for its britches

With its perceived superiority.

 

From Independence to Republic

Sounds like a complete erase,

Independence becoming a means to an end

Achieved in this BLP phase.

 

An eradication of an era

Indelible in our minds and hearts,

Independence Day to Republic Day

Sounds kind of BLP smart.

 

Will Independence Day finally go?

I sincerely hope not,

And so, I plead with this Government,

Please don’t change the locks.

 

 

Do not remove the shoulders

Upon which you now stand,

You will plummet from your lofty height

And fatally crash-land.

 

And no Tom-foolery either

Bringing Barbados National Day,

This is more than nomenclature-

Now way Jose!

No replacement or displacement

Of Independence Day,

Merge the two since the dates are alike,

If there is no other way.

 

Stewart Russell © November 17, 2023