Order of National Heroes

The first National Heroes Day was celebrated on 28 April 1998, the centenary of the birth of Grantley Adams. On the same day, Trafalgar Square was renamed National Heroes Square. 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. 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. 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. 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. The National Heroes' Day is now celebrated on every 28 April as a public holiday. == National Heroes ==

• The Right Excellent Bussa (also known as Busso or Bussoe) (died 1816) • The Right Excellent Sarah Ann Gill (1795–1866) == 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. == See also ==