Submitted by Yardbroom
It has been reported that the Minister of Community Development and Culture Mr. Steve Blackett has proposed to redesign and rename Heroes Square so that the statue of Lord Nelson – 1758-1805 – no longer occupies its present position; in essence the statue (originally in the past Trafalgar Square) will not be positioned “in” Heroes Square.
For many years Nelson’s statue has been a source of contention to many Barbadians, while a few have been very relaxed about it, even to the point of advocating that the statue should remain in its present position, against all opposition.
In taking a look at the situation we should start at the beginning and this is best done by asking why was the statue originally erected in Barbados. The statue was erected in 1813 – sculpted by Sir Richard Westmancott – “to honour Nelson’s memory.” I will return later to if Nelson’s memory should be honoured in Barbados.
Nelson’s column in Trafalgar Square London was finished in 1843, the square was created in 1835. The Square was created in Nelson’s memory. Dublin precedes both Barbados and London with Nelson’s Pillar which was started in 1808.
The planter class in Barbados had a great input in the statue’s erection and it does not take much thinking to understand why in that period they would want to “honour Nelson’s memory.” It is true one cannot change history but those who are here now want to impact on the “present” as the planter class did on theirs in 1813.
Why should there be any opposition to Nelson? There can be no doubt that Nelson was pro slavery. When William Wilberforce repeatedly tried to influence the debates in Parliament on slavery in England. Nelson wrote: “about the damnable doctrine of Wilberforce and his hypocritical allies” This was said when Nelson was a member of Parliament – before he started his naval career – and he had reason to be aggrieved with William Wilberforce a dogged abolitionist who was committed to the abolition of slavery.
It is not reasonable to defend Nelson by saying that was the thinking of the day, because if that was the case what about those of the “same period” like Wilberfore and others who fought for the abolition of slavery?
It is to the present Barbados generation to make their imprint on the “present” to define who they are for future generations, they have as much right to do it as those planters who did so in 1813.
Barbados has been as we know it -more or less – since the seventeenth century and for a greater part of that “early history” there is not much to be proud about…but it has happened.
We must use the past as lessons in how “not” to behave, whilst protecting what is good that we have, because we have paid a heavy price during the past…the decisions we make now are for this generation but they are also building blocks for future generations of proud Barbadians.
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