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Errol Barrow Day
Barbados

Errol Barrow Day 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Barbados

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.

YearDateDayHoliday
202421 JanSunErrol Barrow Day
22 JanMonErrol Barrow Day Holiday
202521 JanTueErrol Barrow Day
202621 JanWedErrol Barrow Day
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

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.

Previous Years

YearDateDayHoliday
202321 JanSatErrol Barrow Day
202221 JanFriErrol Barrow Day
202121 JanThuErrol Barrow Day
202021 JanTueErrol Barrow Day
201921 JanMonErrol Barrow Day
201821 JanSunErrol Barrow Day
22 JanMonErrol Barrow Day Holiday
201721 JanSatErrol Barrow Day