history, the people of this island forged their path with extraordinary fortitude. emancipation, self government, and independence were your waypoints. freedom, justice and self determination have been your guides. an acknowledgement of the past as this island look forward and swore in its first ever president. i. i, sandra prunella mason do swear that i will be faithful and bear true allegiance to barbados according to law, so help me god. casting aside the official link to the british monarchy, barbados is increasingly looking east to china for financial support. there are republican rumblings, too, in other caribbean nations.