A small but appreciative group gathered to watch the 54th Independence Day Parade & National Awards Ceremony in Heroes’ Square, The City, this morning.
During the ceremony, Governor General Dame Sandra Mason conferred awards on those who were named in this year’s Independence Day Honours List.
The top three awards went to former head of the Barbados Defence Force, Brigadier Rudyard Lewis, and Chief Justice Patterson Cheltenham, who have been knighted, while the Order of Freedom of Barbados has been awarded to Patrick Frost for his dedicated service as an educator and for his sterling contribution to the trade union movement.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley delivered a message of hope, with emphasis on Barbados’ handling of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The parade was a scaled-down version of former years as a response to the pandemic. However, members of the Royal Barbados Police Force Band and the “Zouave Band” of the Barbados Defence Force entertained the audience. (KG)
