Rio de Janeiro – The Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was illuminated in the colours of the flag of Barbados, to celebrate the country’s official declaration as a republic.
The iconic Brazilian landmark, which is usually bathed in bright white light, was seen glowing blue and yellow from its perch above the city on Friday, in a display organised by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of São Sebastião, Rio de Janeiro, and the Ambassador of Barbados to Brazil.
Tonika Sealy-Thompson, Ambassador of Barbados to Brazil, said: “This year is the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Barbados and Brazil. It is also the year when Barbados will for the first time be able to select one of its own citizens to become the Head of State, and it is an absolute honour to see the sovereignty of my homeland celebrated by the great nation that hosts me, Brazil, in such a beautiful way.
“The relationship between our two countries can be traced back through past generations who migrated to Brazil, many of them over a hundred years ago, to work on the railroads in the Amazon, and to take up trades in cities like Manaus, Belem, and Porto Velho. Many of our descendants became leaders in fields like teaching and nursing.
“But while we may have been cut off from each other by the passage of time, the difficult circumstances inherited from colonialism, as well as language, the renewal of our nationhood is as good as time as any to tap into our pasts.” (PR)
