Errol Barrow Day
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Barbados celebrates the public holiday known as “Errol Barrow Day” every 21 January. Errol Barrow was a social activist who greatly influenced Barbados between 1951 and 1987. He was the country’s big independence activist who pushed for freedom for the UK, and he then became the first prime minister of Barbados. In 2027, Errol Barrow Day falls on Thursday 21 January. The holiday will be on Friday 21 January in 2028. In 1951, Errol Barrow won a seat in the island’s parliament, but in 1955, he formed his own party (the Democratic Labour Party) and pushed for independence and major reforms. Finally, his party won in 1961 and he became the “premier” of the colony. He negotiated for independence with the UK, which was granted on 30 November, 1966. As Barbados’ first prime minister, Barrow worked to free up his country from economic dependence on other lands, but he also worked for closer cooperation with other Caribbean island-nations in the Caribbean Free Trade Association. He also saw educational and other reforms implemented. But in 1976, he lost and was ousted as prime minister. Ten years later, in 1986, however, he won and became prime minister again. But he died in 1987, early in his term of office.
History
Barbados celebrates the public holiday known as “Errol Barrow Day” every 21 January. He was the country’s big independence activist who pushed for freedom for the UK, and he then became the first prime minister of Barbados. In 1951, Errol Barrow won a seat in the island’s parliament, but in 1955, he formed his own party (the Democratic Labour Party) and pushed for independence and major reforms. He negotiated for independence with the UK, which was granted on 30 November, 1966. As Barbados’ firs
How It's Celebrated
Barbados celebrates the public holiday known as “Errol Barrow Day” every 21 January. The holiday will be on Friday 21 January in 2028. In 1951, Errol Barrow won a seat in the island’s parliament, but in 1955, he formed his own party (the Democratic Labour Party) and pushed for independence and major