IF YOU ARE A PROUD BAJAN LIKE ME, you must be on cloud nine today. For between Friday evening and Sunday night, many of the attributes that we as a people are known for, and should be grateful about, were on display.
First there was the installation of Governor General Sir Elliott Belgrave in a simple, dignified, non-partisan ceremony.
His well deserved elevation was an endorsement of what I call the “Barbadian Dream”. That is, the ability of an individual born in humble circumstances to rise to a position of great responsibility through age-old values of respect, discipline, education, hard work and judiciousness.
There are a number of individuals here who have achieved the “Barbadian Dream” and, like Sir Elliott, are role models whose life work is worth emulating by younger generations in particular.
I speak of people like Sir Harcourt Lewis, Wes Hall, Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Lloyd Sandiford, Owen Arthur, Freundel Stuart and the late Sir Frank Walcott and Malcolm Marshall, to name a few. Each of these overcame their humble births and through those aforesaid values rose to prominence.
I was particularly moved when Sir Elliott said, “my elevation to this high office is proof . . . . as Nelson Mandela, among others, has said, ‘it is not where one starts that matters but where one finishes’.”
Sir Elliott, may your tenure be long and successful!
My high continued on Saturday when I saw Minister of Health Donville Inniss taking leadership in the clean-up of Furniture Limited. People have asked why he should have been there at all, but if we are honest, it is no secret that the Mirchandani’s wealth and influence could be intimidating.
Inniss’ presence demonstrated that no one is above the law and whatever needs to be done to protect the well-being of Barbadians must be done without fear or favour.
The only concern I had about the clean-up exercise was why her staff were involved in the process. Surely if the place was deemed worthy of sanitizing, Furniture Limited should have been mandated to hire professional cleaners to do the job.
The workers should never have to deal with the removal of dead birds, rats, and the high volume of dust and debris without wearing certified protective gear. Even though most were wearing masks, those alone were not good enough, given the task.
Nevertheless, kudos to Inniss. I hope that he does not relent in trying to get every business place in Bridgetown to keep its environs at an acceptable standard.
This brings me to Sunday and the inaugural First Citizens Bridgetown By Night Crop Over Heritage Tour. Billed as a walk through the history of our City taking in some of its unique characters, places and events, this initiative deserves every positive accolade it has received. The tour was:
Informative, as the hundreds who walked were enlightened about the wealth of history in the growth and development of our little City.
Educational in providing knowledge of a bygone era in which Bridgetown played a pivotal role in the British colonial dominance of trade in the Caribbean.
Funny, as it featured skits with irrepressible portrayals of characters like King Dyal whose penchant for calling his fellow Bajans “black cattle” when teased was not forgotten. Also impersonated was the strolling minstrel Shilling, whose song My Dog Loves Your Dog was a joy to hear after so many years. And, of course, Rachel Pringle, whose exploits are so well catalogued.
Sad because it featured the ugliness of slavery, with all its brutality and savagery.
And inspirational, as it showcased the sterling efforts of Clennell Wickham, Sarah Ann Gill, Samuel Jackman Prescod and others to ameliorate the conditions of ordinary Barbadians.
Space constraints prevent me from giving details of this event, but for me it was the best thing to happen to Crop Over in years, and should become a standing feature. Oh, please make provision for wheelchair-bound individuals.
Sanka Price is the SATURDAY SUN Editor.