Prime Minister Freundel Stuart says the Richard Stoute Teen Talent Contest has not only contributed much to the country’s musical landscape but its social fabric as well.
Stuart told Weekend Buzz that he feared when it came time for the contest’s founder, Richard Stoute to hang up his boots, the institution of Teen Talent will wither.
“This happens too often in Barbados, that you see these things happening, we see people throwing their personalities behind and making the sacrifices that he has made over the past 38 years and then when they have to finish there is nobody to pick it up and run with it,” he said.
“The Time To Sing programme on television for example, when the Reverend Errol Wiltshire did it, we took that for granted for many years and it finished, when in fact people looked forward to it every Sunday evening. My fear is the time will come when he will have to lay the burden down and I hope that when he lays it down, it doesn’t stay laid down but that somebody is there to pick it up and run with it.”
Furthermore, the Prime Minister, speaking during intermission for the final of the 38th annual Teen Talent Contest at Hilton Barbados, said that in spite of having to function in challenging economic times his Government was ever committed to the teen show.
“We value very highly the contribution our young people have to make to national development and wherever we can we try to facilitate them, that is a commitment of the Government,” he said.
“The history of Teen Talent speaks for itself. The number of young people who have passed through [it] and gone onto be recognised internationally and to do good for themselves, that number speaks for itself. I think that it has made a mighty contribution to the confidence of our young people and the extent to which it is sensitises patrons to the fact that we have so much talent around; it is a tribute to Richard [Stoute] over these last 38 years. So I deeply respect the contribution Richard has made.
“Thirty eight years’ commitment to anything is a tribute to the situatedness of persons involved, the strength of character, the commitment to the achievement of the goal he has set for himself and I wish it well and he will continue to have the Government’s support, “ Stuart added.
Minister of Community Development Steve Blackett applauded Stoute for reaching the milestone of 38 years and for his everlasting effort to push young local talent to the fore.
“Certainly we have to tip our hats to Richard for being responsible for so many of our calypsonians and other entertainers in different genres. For without this competition being the spawning ground for this talent to come out of entertainment in Barbados. So we have to thank Richard. Long may you continue to provide that kind of atmosphere to showcase your talent and showcase the young people especially,” Blackett said. (SDB Media)
