The President’s Address
Mr. President and Members of the Senate;
Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly;
Specially invited guests, ladies and gentlemen;
These Houses of Parliament sit today, joining with the people of our new Republic in celebration of our democracy; to reaffirm our common bonds as the people of this nation; to build enhanced trust between the governed and those who lead; and to construct a stronger nation-state in which all our people have their fair share.
Fifty-five years after it was initiated, we can make boast that our sovereignty as an Independent Nation is now truly our own.
We are here assembled for the start of the first parliamentary term since our transition to republican status. We acknowledge our history, accomplishments, traditions and values and we look to the future with keen anticipation.
In so doing, we are reminded of the words of renowned Barbadian writer, George Lamming, who said, “The architecture of our future is not only unfinished; the scaffolding has hardly gone up.”
Please click here to download the full speech by President of Barbados, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, at the opening of Parliament, today.
Photo gallery for the opening of Parliament
