David Denny
Queen’s Park should be renamed after the first female Governor General of Barbados, Dame Nita Barrow.
This suggestion comes from General Secretary for the Caribbean Movement of Peace and Integration, David Denny, who spoke to The Barbados Advocate during an interview yesterday.
His comment comes on the heels of remarks made by Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley this week as she spoke about government’s plans for the redevelopment of the city location. Addressing the House of Assembly, she said that Queen’s Park is to be used for a new purpose and be renamed at an appropriate time.
Mottley also proposed the “little amphitheatre” which is situated in Queen’s Park be named in honour of Jamaican political activist, Marcus Garvey.
Denny stated, “I think the entire park should be renamed and it should be named after Dame Nita Barrow, who is a Barbadian, but the amphitheatre could be named after Marcus Garvey.”
“Dame Nita Barrow was not a member of any of the political parties but she was a former Governor General. Yes, she was the sister of the Prime Minister of Barbados, but she played a major role in the international liberation struggle and she was also one of the leading personalities that helped to organise for the release of Nelson Mandela. She has done a lot of community work in Barbados also,” he said.
This is another occasion in recent years where Queen’s Park’s name has come into sharp focus.
Back in 2015, the then Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley, stated government was in the early stages of discussions about whether Queen’s Park should or should not be renamed. The new name suggested then was National Heroes Park in honour of this island’s National Heroes