republic. the decision was made without a referendum. barbados declared independence from britain in 1966, but now the government has said it is time for barbados to finally leave its colonial past behind. current governor general sandra mason will become its first president. mason will become its first president-— president. the mantle of leadership _ president. the mantle of leadership falls - president. the mantle of leadership falls fully - president. the mantle of leadership falls fully to l president. the mantle of l leadership falls fully to the postindependence generations of barbadians. it is those generations who must now define how our country and citizens will dominate the world stage, create a new vision, and build barbados' future.— create a new vision, and build barbados' future. barbados to me is where _ barbados' future. barbados to me is where my _ barbados' future. barbados to me is where my story - barbados' future. barbados to me is where my story begins. | barbados' future. barbados to | me is where my story begins. i was born in britain, my grandparents are from here, it is happy memories, it is the rum shops, it is the people, but everything that my grandparents showed me when i was growing up, seems to be