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Errol Barrow was the first prime minister of Barbados. He was born
into a political family in the parish of St.Lucy. His sister Dame Nita Barrow also became a social activist, humanitarian
leader and later on Governor General of Barbardos
Errol Barrow before becoming premier served in the royal air force during world war
II. He enlisted in the RAF on 31 december 1940 and flew 45 operational bombing missions over the European
Theatre. In 1945 he had risen to the rank of Flying Officer and was appointed as personal navigator to the commander
in Chief of the British zone of occupied Germany, Sir William Sholto douglas.
After the war Errol Barrow studied Law at the Inns of Court. He also studied economics at the London School
Of Economics. He took the degrees in
1949 and 1950 respestively.
He returned to Barbados in 1950 and was elected to the Parliament
in 1951 as a member of the Barbados Labour Party(BLP). However in 1955 he founded the Democractic Labour Party(DLP)
as an alternative to the BLP. He became its leader in 1958. In 1961 the DLP won the elections and he won
the constituency of St.John. He served from 1961- 1966 where he led Barbados to independence from Great Britain.
He served ten more years after that as minister of Foreign Affairs. Sadly, Errol Barrow died on the 1st of June
1987. However his legacy still lives on and is now one of Barbados's 10 national heroes.
CONTRIBUTIONS
Errol Barrow has made some great contributions to Barbados and in respect to the
Caribbean. He has founded the CARIFTA(Caribbean Free Trade Association) in 1965. He pushed free education for
the youth of Barbados and also free school meals. He also pushed trade with the Caribbean as to pushing trade with other
international countries. He did these and a whole lot more that is why today he is the greatest prime minister Barbados
ever had.
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