This weekend of final celebrations marking Barbados’ 47th anniversary of Independence, I wish to focus on a most outstanding, internationally renowned Barbadian, recognized for his very inspiring intellectual contributions and passionate love for our Caribbean region – Dr George Lamming.
Long before he reached his 86th birthday last July, this Barbadian-born Caribbean man of letters, iconic novelist and endearing cultural personality had become a virtual household name across the Caribbean region.
As the judges who recently gave this West Indian patriot and formidable intellectual defender of our political sovereignty the ALBA Award for “literature” have recognized, these attributes are evident among the region’s people who have an interest in Caribbean identity and capacities to help foster a more humane environment.
It’s of interest to note here that the choice of Lamming as the first West Indian writer to have received the ALBA Award for literature came within the first year of the publication of what’s regarded as a monumental collection of his written works and “conversations” on fundamental issues of our Caribbean life.
Edited by the well known Jamaican scholar Anthony Bogues for the series on Caribbean Reasonings, and offered as The George Lamming Reader (The Aesthetics of Decolonisation) – a publication of Ian Randle Publishers in Kingston – the 452-page offering is a must-read for any citizen of the Caribbean Community, the Greater Caribbean, as well as others with some interest in learning about this fascinating region.
Consequently, on this 47th Independence anniversary of this nation, I take this opportunity to humbly offer a suggestion to the powers that be to give serious thought to elevating George Lamming – recipient of various national/regional honours – to the status that has for too long been overlooked: a National Hero of Barbados.
It may perhaps seem impertinent to some for this Guyanese-born journalist to offer such a suggestion. Nevertheless, I do so as one whose journalism profession and Caribbean perspectives have been significantly informed by the written and oral contributions of George Lamming. It is my good fortune to know him in the manner as I had, thankfully, come to also know the now late William Demas, Rex Nettleford and Martin Carter – celebrated icons of our Caribbean.
I have the feeling that diverse citizens of the Caribbean – and not just the CARICOM region – may welcome George Lamming, a people’s novelist and creative voice for change, joining the internationally renowned cricket icon Sir Garfield Sobers in being the second living National Hero of this island state.
Will it happen?
Happy Independence anniversary to all readers.
????•? Rickey Singh is a noted Caribbean journalist.
