Charles Duncan O’Neal National Hero

Certain men deserve honour for their greatness

He was worthy and was no exception to this  

And most Bajans see his likeness on the $10 bill

Right in Bridgetown the bridge bears his name still

Lasting tokens of this honorable man who

Elevated the poor and down-trodden to a status all new

Son of Joseph and Catherine O’Neal, born in 1879

Duncan placed second in the Barbados Scholarship in 1899

University of Scotland, Edinburg soon accepted him in

Novel distinctions and a Blue Ribbon in Surgery he would win

Caught the bug for politics when he met Keir Hardie

And captured a seat on the Sunderland County Council easily

Newcastle, where he practiced was great but he desired

Old familiar faces in Barbados but once there was uninspired

Neighboring Trinidad and Dominica he would reside

Even though for 14 years his heart cried

And bearing it no more he fled back to our shore

Lit fires and founded the Democratic League in October ‘24

National significance came with a first two months shortly

Appointment of “Chrissie” Braithwaite to the House of Assembly

The League’s program was based on principles of socialism

It attracted colored and Blacks, middle classes and shun racism

O’Neal educated ordinary people about politics

Nudge them into the arena and showed them the tricks

Agitated for free education and dental care to kids free

Located Lobourers’ Systems abolition, a first for the century  

Housing was improved and the Master and Servants Act

Ended through his agitation and zealous impact

Routed H.B.G Austin in ’32 to a place in the House of Assembly

O’Neal abolished Child Labour and died Nov.19, in ‘36 honorably.