Order of National Heroes

For other uses, see Order of the National Hero (disambiguation).

The Order of National Heroes is the supreme honour within the national honours system of Barbados and was established by the Order of National Heroes Act 1998 by the Parliament of Barbados.^[1] Members are referred to as National Heroes, and are accorded the style "The Right Excellent". The Order recognises the most prominent figures in Barbados' history. As of June 2024, Sir Garfield Sobers and Rihanna are the only two living persons conferred with the title.

Heroes Square, formerly known as Trafalgar Square in Bridgetown.^[2]

Order of National Heroes
Awarded by President of Barbados
Type	National Honour
Established	20 April 1998; 27 years ago (20 April 1998)
Criteria	At the pleasure of the president with the recommendation of the prime minister
Status	Currently constituted
Founder	Parliament of Barbados
Chancellor	Sandra Mason (President of Barbados)
Secretary	Vacant
Classes	Member (National Hero)
Statistics
First induction	1998
Last induction	2021
Total inductees	11
Precedence
Next (higher)	None
Next (lower)	Order of Freedom of Barbados

History

The first National Heroes Day was celebrated on 28 April 1998, the centenary of the birth of Grantley Adams.^[3] On the same day, Trafalgar Square was renamed National Heroes Square.^[2]

Eleven people have been created National Heroes of Barbados to date, of which ten were nominated by Prime Minister Owen Arthur and formally appointed by the Governor-General in 1998, in accordance with the Act.^[2][4] Of the original ten, only Sir Garfield Sobers is alive; Sarah Ann Gill was the only woman to be created a National Hero until the singer and businesswoman Rihanna was honoured in November 2021.^[5]

In 2021, the Government started a search for new National Heroes. Citizens were encouraged to nominate people who they thought qualified for the high honour. The government of Barbados ultimately chose singer Rihanna for this honour and duly awarded her the title of National Hero on the first day of the Barbadian republic.^[6][7]

The president, being the legal successor to the governor-general, adopted the latter's role and duties of appointing national heroes after Barbados became a republic in 2021.^[8]

National Heroes

• The Right Excellent Bussa (also known as Busso or Bussoe)^[9] (died 1816)
• The Right Excellent Sarah Ann Gill (1795–1866)
• The Right Excellent Samuel Jackman Prescod (1806–1871)
• The Right Excellent Charles Duncan O'Neal (1879–1936)
• The Right Excellent Sir Grantley Herbert Adams CMG, QC (1898–1971)
• The Right Excellent Clement Osbourne Payne (1904–1941)
• The Right Excellent Sir Hugh Worrell Springer GCMG, CBE (1913–1994)
• The Right Excellent Sir Frank Leslie Walcott KA, OBE (1916–1999)
• The Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow PC, QC (1920–1987)
• The Right Excellent Sir Garfield St Aubrun Sobers AO, OCC (born 1936)
• The Right Excellent Rihanna^[10][11] (born 1988)

National Heroes Gallery

The Barbados National Heroes Gallery, located in the Museum of Parliament, traces the lives and contributions made by the National Heroes.

The West Wing of Parliament, including the National Heroes Gallery, was closed in 2020 due to environmental issues. The government was criticized for leaving it in a state of abandonment and open to robberies.^[12]

See also

• Table of precedence for Barbados at number 6.