Music, memories and a spirit of generosity filled the air at the Barbados Museum’s Walled Garden Theatre recently as scores of patrons turned out in support of the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) Charitable Trust fund-raising concert.
The event brought together some of Barbados’ well-known entertainers for an evening dedicated not only to showcasing local talent, but also to raising funds to assist vulnerable senior citizens.
From the very first performance, the atmosphere was electric as patrons clapped, swayed and sang along to a wide range of classics and local favourites.
One of the night’s standout performances came from Sonny Meraki, whose smooth renditions of songs by Morgan Heritage and Beres Hammond transported many in attendance back to earlier years, sparking visible nostalgia among the crowd.
Veteran entertainer The Most Honourable Anthony Mighty Gabby Carter also received thunderous applause as he delivered a commanding performance that blended social commentary with humour and culture, while Mikey, Paula Hinds and several other performers added variety to the entertainment through reggae, soul, calypso and contemporary hits.
But while the music drew the crowd, organisers stressed that the heart of the event remained firmly centred on helping seniors who continue to struggle quietly behind the scenes.
Chair of the BARP Charitable Trust, Theresa Marshall, said she was overwhelmed by the support shown by patrons and corporate Barbados, especially considering the increasing number of charitable causes competing for public attention.
“I think so. You see, the thing is that there’s a lot of different kinds of philanthropy. But what we concentrate on is the generosity of our members. So almost everybody you see in there today has bought a ticket to come to support seniors. So, obviously, we have a lot of corporate support, but it is those who show up and help us that we value very much,” Marshall said.
She explained that although the trust was formed in 2016, operations only began in 2018 before the COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted many of its activities and fund-raising efforts. However, despite the setbacks, the organisation continued trying to meet the needs of struggling seniors.
Marshall said the trust primarily focuses on three key areas – assisting seniors in distress, helping with housing difficulties and supporting research related to ageing.
“Our seniors in distress sometimes have medical issues and they don’t have insurance or they simply can’t afford the treatment that they need. So we would step in and help where possible. Largely, these are small grants because we obviously cannot pay for a $200 000 operation or anything like that, but we try to provide assistance that can still make a meaningful difference in somebody’s life,” she explained.
She added that housing support had also become increasingly important as more elderly Barbadians faced financial hardship.
“Then, if they have housing issues or housing difficulties, again, this is where we would step in.
“We also fund an annual postgraduate scholarship at Cave Hill to do research in areas of ageing. We’ve had a variety of research topics over the years and we’ve awarded seven scholarships so far,” Marshall said.
She added that the latest scholarship recipient is conducting research into the connection between non-communicable diseases and early onset dementia – an area she said could prove increasingly important as Barbados’ population continues to age.
She also praised the performers and organisers who gave freely of their time and talent to support the initiative.
“This is our second fund-raising concert. We did the first one last year and we were blown away by the number of artistes who stepped up and said they would play for us either for free or for a very small honorarium. So we are getting their support as well to the cause, and we are extremely grateful for that,” Marshall said.
(CLM)
