What do an episcopal church in New York City, Brooklyn’s historic Borough Hall, a community centre in a Toronto suburb and the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington have in common?
At different times in the past few days, they played host to Bajans in different North American cities who were celebrating the 45th anniversary of their birthplace’s Independence from Britain.
“We have done quite well and our achievements have shown that Kofi Annan, a former United Nations secretary general, was right when he said that Barbados had earned a reputation for punching above its weight,” said John Beale, Ambassador to the OAS, after hosting a reception on Independence Day.
“What the head of the UN said was perfectly true. Barbados has done well. The reception was a happy occasion for us and the diplomatic and business communities. We had about ten officials from the US State Department, for instance.”
Lennox Price, who spoke at both the service of thanksgiving held at St Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church on Pacific Street in Brooklyn, and a few days later at a flag-raising ceremony at Borough Hall in downtown Brooklyn, put it differently.
“As a young nation, we have a lot to be thankful for and it is no idle boast that we have made great strides, be it in the areas of education, health, tourism or commerce,” said Price.
“We continue to hold our own despite the tough economic challenges which are concomitant with the cloud of uncertainty which is lingering over every facet of our lives.”
That was why Barbados needed “all hands to the plough if we are to survive in these trying times”, he added.
“I am of the firm view that these challenging economic times present the perfect opportunity for us to demonstrate that we are concerned about the plight of our brothers and sisters.”
Several hundred Bajans from the tri-state area – New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – attended the three-hour ecumenical service which featured the singing of hymns, a liturgical performance, the lighting of the “eternal candle”, and several prayers for Barbados’ leadership, its people, and the peace and security of both countries.
There was also the singing of the national anthems of both nations, a musical performance by an instrumentalist and solos along with presentations by St Bartholomew’s church choir.
In a sermon, Rev. Sheldon Hamblin, a Barbadian Episcopal minister and the priest-in-charge of Church of the Nativity, told the standing room only crowd that although Barbados’ health care system was frequently criticized by those who received care, the quality of the service had saved lives and allowed Bajans to live comfortably.
“Friends, we are a privileged people. We have so much for which to thank God because of the successive leadership of our beloved Barbados,” he said.
“I don’t know how many of you can recall this but I can still remember the free education that we received, the free school meals, the free health care services that I received in Barbados.”
As he saw it, when some Bajans were often tempted to be sparing in their prayers of political figures but lavish in their criticisms of them, they should give thanks to God for those in authority in the country, regardless of political affiliation.
“I know many of you sitting here want to criticize but before you criticize pause and think about it,” he suggested.
At the flag raising ceremony, which was moved indoors because of the death of a top city official and an order from the city’s mayor, Michael Bloomberg, that all flags on city-owned buildings should be flown at half-mast, Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn Borough president, hailed Barbados for its high standard of living, stable government and the fact that it produced “many notable Bajan-Americans”.
