The Barbados Landship Association has stood as a cultural beacon for over a century, providing young people with a platform for cultural expression, encouraging community discipline and fostering social cohesion.
For three young officers, Ashaunda Payne, Tedrianne Ifill and Tashara Woodley, being members of the Landship allowed them to step out of their comfort zone, adopt key values such as patience and accountability and learning the responsibility that came with being a leader.
After witnessing the Landship perform as a young child, 23-year-old Lieutenant Ashaunda Payne was drawn to become a member of the association. For the past 17 years she has been a member and was previously a sub lieutenant, eventually working her way to becoming an officer.
For her, the experience has been an enjoyable one, developing in her a strong sense of community within the group.
Becoming a part of the Landship, Payne underwent personal development and learned important life values along the way.
“The Barbados Landship Association teaches us how to better ourselves, be more outspoken, and basically to speak up for ourselves and others, while not being rude about it, and showing more compassion for others.
“Some things might happen and although we’re not at fault, we apologise and take accountability. Even if somebody comes to us first, we’re going to step up and be the bigger person to apologise, because that person might not have matured enough yet and are still looking up to us,” she said.
Not easy
She said the journey was not easy but she had to work her way up to get to the role she wanted.
As an officer, she was tasked with the duty of being a leader and being an example for the younger members to follow. Although the journey so far has been challenging because of the different personalities she had to deal with, Payne said she learned to listen to them, understand them and recognise that each person was different.
While reflecting on her time with the association, she encouraged other young people who were interested to join, noting that it was a good initiative and provided the support individuals needed.
Reach out
“If you need help with something, you have somebody to reach out to and basically get support from that. You know we’re going to have your back, regardless of the situation,” Payne said.
Eighteen-year-old Lieutenant Tedrianne Ifill has been a member of the Landship for six years, stating that from a young age she used to attend camp with cousins and family members before eventually joining.
Reflecting on her journey, Ifill, who also started as a sub lieutenant and eventually became an officer, said she had to learn a lot about patience when dealing with the younger members.
“I learned to have a lot of patience because dealing with young children is really, really hard but they’re different and you’re going to learn how to adjust to them,” she said.
For Ifill, it was the camaraderie and the inclusive nature of the group that made being a member worthwhile, as she said support was always extended regardless of an individual’s situation or circumstance.
She encouraged young people interested in learning or being a part of the Landship Association to join for a good and wholesome experience as well as a wide range of fun activities and initiatives.
For 19-year-old Lieutenant Tashara Woodley, being a Landship member allowed her to come out of her shell as she was a rather shy person.
She has been a member since attending Frederick Smith Secondary School and was first interested in joining the association after seeing the maypole being plait in Queen’s Park as a teenager and wanting to try it out.
A slight introvert, her time as a sub lieutenant got off to a rough start due to a fear of talking to people. That fear has decreased over time.
“It started off a bit shaky because I don’t really like talking to people but coming out and talking to people more, it became better. I still work on my communication skills, but so far it’s improving,” she said.
One of Woodley’s most memorable experiences with the Landship included the opportunity to travel for the first time when she and others attended the 20th session of the Inter-governmental Committee for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in New Delhi, India, last year, where she enjoyed connecting with new people and seeing new places.
She encouraged interested people to join the Landship, adding that there were endless opportunities for fun and social interaction. (AJ)