Barbados Today

There’s been yet another appeal to Government to remove Lord Nelson’s statue from National Heroes’ Square in Bridgetown.

The latest call came this morning from Public Relations Officer of the Pan African Coalition of Organisations, John Howell, during a news briefing to announce their plans for the August 1 Emancipation Day celebrations.

“I would like to again call for the removal of Lord Nelson from our Heroes’ Square, and that our heroes be placed in that square, so we can continue with some level of dignity [for] African people who have suffered, who now enjoy some luxuries because of the other that have suffered,” Howell asserted.

He argued that Heroes’ Square should reflect those who are true heroes of the nation.

Secretary of PACO, David Denny, also reiterated earlier calls for the removal of Nelson’s statue. Denny said formal representation for its removal had been made as recently as last year.

“Last year, … after the Emancipation Day activity, a letter was sent off to the Government of Barbados, asking for the removal of Lord Nelson from our National Heroes’ Square,” recalled the Pan Africanist.

He observed that even on the 26th day of this month, they made a similar call to take down Nelson.

“We see it as an insult, because Lord Nelson represented a case against the abolition of slavery, and Lord Nelson fought a battle against (William) Wilberforce; and because of all of that, to me it is an insult for us to mount someone who represents slavery in our National Heroes’ Square, and for us to refuse to honour, at least, one of our national heroes and to put them in our National Heroes’ Square,” Denny added.

He was of the opinion that if a country had a national heroes square, it should be for true national heroes and not just a token name. He said he felt it should be somewhere that is respected and honoured. (EJ)