Barbados?is “a legendary country” that has made massive strides of which its citizens can feel proud.
The Reverend Joel Cumberbatch lauded the achievements of this country at the National Independence Service held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre yesterday evening marking Barbados’ 46th anniversary of nationhood.
In his sermon, Cumberbatch said that this country’s beauty and loveliness were more than just physical.
“I am proud to be a citizen of a country where the right to freely meet for worship is guaranteed. I?am happy to be a citizen of this country in whose Parliament God is recognized and is a permanent feature of our stability,” said Cumberbatch, who is celebrating 32 years of pastoral ministry.
Reverend Cumberbatch said that Barbados had proved that limited size and natural resources were not a deterrent to scaling social and economic heights.
He told worshippers that they could “continue to hold our heads as proud Barbadians”.
Governor General Sir Elliott Belgrave, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, Chief Justice Marston Gibson and Defence Force Chief of Staff Alvin Quintyne were among the congregation.
Cumberbatch said that revered leaders Errol Barrow and Sir Grantley Adams had made sterling contributions to this country and paved the way for Barbados to have a stable political climate and also made special mention of another national hero, Clement Payne, who was the catalyst for the 1937 disturbances against social inequalities.
He added that God had been exceptionally good to the country, preserving an Independent Barbados from national calamities.
Officiating minister Dr Nigel Taylor said the nation had come a long way and much credit had to go those who had made the sacrifices.
The opening prayer was deliverd by Dean Dr Frank Marshall; the first lesson read by Eric Bowman of the Jewish community and the second lesson by Canon Noel Burke.
Giselle Best, headgirl of the Graydon Sealy Secondary School, recited the national pledge; Monsignor Vincent Blackett did the closing prayer and benediction while the musical strains were provided by the Royal Barbados Police Band, with a combined mass choir. (MK)