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Centenarian Seibert Lewis Hailed As A Man Of God

Surrounded by family and some of his closest friends, Mr. Seibert Lewis beamed with gratitude as he saw the several well-wishers who had come to the Accra Beach Hotel, Christ Church, to celebrate his 100^th birthday, on August 21.

Acting President, The Very Reverend Dr. Jeffery Gibson was one of the centenarian’s specially invited guests.

Upon his arrival, he remarked, “Let me take this opportunity to express and add my own personal congratulations to you on reaching this significant milestone. One hundred years of life is really a great cause for celebration, and you’re surrounded by members of your family and certain friends who have come to share that great moment with you and to let you know how much, not only we celebrate the 100 years, but how much they love you.”

In response to His Excellency’s inquiry as to what it was like to live to 100, the centenarian replied, “In the grace of God, I am very happy to know that I am alive to reach 100 years old, and to me and my family, and my children, grandchildren and great grands, we all make one bond.”

*Acting President of Barbados, The Very Reverend Dr. Jeffery Gibson, congratulates Seibert Lewis on celebrating his 100th birthday. In the background, Acting ADC Lieutenant Ramar Haynes looks on*.

Mr. Roger Scott, in his tribute to the centenarian, whom he affectionally calls ‘Papa Lou’, stressed Mr. Lewis is like a father to him and “a man of God first and foremost”. Mr. Scott also noted that the centenarian’s life “is truly an example of the characteristics of a Godly man – faithful, committed, loyal, hardworking, reliant on God and strong in faith”.

“He has provided me with immeasurable support and love over these last 20 years; he has been a blessing to me and my family,” added Mr. Scott.

Reverend Anderson Carrington of the Wesleyan Holiness Church, Black Rock, shared that Mr. Lewis is a “very faithful member of the Church’. Acknowledging that he appreciated the centenarian “very much for his loyalty” he noted that “almost every Sunday we can look down the congregation and we are going to see Brother Lewis….”

The Reverend also disclosed that the centenarian was instrumental in overseeing much-needed construction work at the Black Rock Wesleyan Holiness Church. “…At 80 years old, he was walking across that roof, sometimes to my nervousness. Brother Lewis, I appreciate you for that,” stressed Mr. Carrington.

The Reverend further noted that Mr. Lewis leveraged his contacts and brought together the right people at the right time. He said, “He (Mr. Lewis) contacted everybody; he brought everybody together so that when we submitted the plans to Town and Country Planning, everything in detail was right. And we give God thanks for you my brother…may God continue to strengthen you on this, your 100^th birthday”.

Mr. Lewis, who was educated at St. Jude’s Primary School, St. George, was self-employed for most of his life. His career path saw him running his own restaurant, marketing fruit and vegetables as well as involved in the construction industry. In the 1970’s, he emigrated to St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, and upon retirement at age 65 (in 1989), returned home.

The centenarian, a widower, was married to Lucille Lewis and has seven children, 30 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Loretta Payne (93) is the centenarian’s only living sibling.

Mr. Lewis lives in Free Hill, Black Rock and while he has a caretaker, the centenarian demonstrates a great deal of independence and according to him, eats “whatever the Lord allows…”

The Very Reverend Dr. Jeffrey Gibson presented Mr. Lewis with a fruit basket, a bottle of non-alcoholic wine and a personalised card. As they both read the card together, the Acting President told the centenarian: ‘Family is the most important unit in life. I am glad you are surrounded by a wonderful family and so congratulations again.” (PR/GIS)

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Prime Minister Mottley: Choose Greatness Instead Of Violence

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has made an impassioned plea to the youth in Barbados to aspire to greatness just like the new Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF), Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Lovell, and to stay clear of a life of violence.

Ms. Mottley made the appeal yesterday after the 45-year-old Chief of Staff took the Oath of Allegiance before the President, Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason and the Acting Private Secretary Juana Franklin-Leacock, at State House.

She promised to address the country later this week on matters of citizen security and referred to a discussion with the Attorney General about the unfortunate circumstances in which a young man was now facing murder charges. She said: “I thought to myself that this is truly a story of two Barbadoses.”

The Prime Minister declared that any child can achieve greatness like Lt. Col. Lovell, “once we put all of the guard rails and the rooting and the mentorship in place as was then for the majority of us”.

Ms. Mottley stressed: “That this fine gentleman has emerged and has been able, through discipline, hard work, capacity and mentorship, to rise to where he is today, as compared to others who choose a different path, is a story that I want all Barbadians to reflect upon. The choice is yours for your children and for yourself and I could not want a better metaphor, a better example, to show people what is possible in this country.”

The Prime Minister reiterated her government’s intention to expand the ranks of the Barbados Defence Force to 800 personnel by the time it reaches its 50th anniversary.

Ms. Mottley acknowledged that the problem was not young people wanting to engage in “risky things, but we have now the reality that there are tools available to people that have a disproportionate impact on our lives”.

The Prime Minister added: “I could not let today pass without highlighting what is possible. A fine young man who rises to the highest ranks in this country, or young men who want a pathway to either Coral Ridge, Westbury Cemetery, or Dodds [Prisons]; the choice is ours. I do not believe that it is a difficult choice, and I thank God that we have examples like you and others in The [Barbados] Police Service and the Barbados Defence Force and the other protective services to show what it is really like.

“The Commissioner spoke to the country and indicated that we’re dealing with a core of people, but we know that behind that core of people we have been too lapse in being able to control and to ensure that our young people are rooted, but equally, have guard rails along the pathway to adulthood and then in early adulthood,” Ms. Mottley underlined.

The Prime Minister noted that government would continue to do all that it can to steer the youth on the right path, pointing out “you will continuously hear me address what I know to be the truth, that who we are as people is 90 per cent determined by how we are raised”.

“I have every confidence that this fine gentleman and tomorrow I will be able to call him a different rank, but today, Lieutenant Colonel Lovell will help us along with the team, Commander Peterson and others, to be able to ensure that the excellent work done by Commodore Shurland, in helping to bridge the transition of the Barbados Defence Force at this very, very unique time in our history…. The Barbados Defence Force has shown that every step of the way, it has been an essential component in the governance of this country,” Ms. Mottley surmised

The Prime Minister noted that as the BDF continues to modernise its operations, she is confident that with Lt. Col. Lovell and Commander Peterson would oversee a seamless transition at a time when the country “needs the Barbados Defence Force, more than ever, to stand up and to play its role, not just in citizen security in its broadest sense, but also in the efficiency and protection of the country from cyber security, normal security”.

Meanwhile, Lt. Colonel Lovell, in brief remarks, said it was a privilege and an honour and a “humbling experience that the President, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, and the people of Barbados had “reposed such a responsibility in a relatively young person”.

He continued: “I am humbled by this experience…humbled by this responsibility but I look forward to the challenges. I know I have a strong team behind me. So, as we always say, once we work together in the Barbados Defence Force, there is no obstacle that we cannot overcome, and we look forward to doing that over the next four years.”

Also in attendance were Attorney General Dale Marshall, other members of Cabinet, and senior government officials. (PR/GIS)

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Barbados’ Rum Hailed As Economic, Historic & Cultural Product

During the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Public Forum closing session last Friday, September 13, Barbados took the opportunity to highlight the island as the birthplace of rum and how it is an economic and cultural product for the country.

The Public Forum, which coincided with the WTO’s 30th anniversary was held in Geneva, Switzerland, under the theme “Re-globalisation: Better Trade for a Better World”.

The annual event deemed one of the WTO’s largest outreach forums attracted a diverse set of stakeholders, including government policymakers, international organisations, the business community, academia, parliamentary representatives, and civil society.

One of the highlights of the Forum was the closing session focused on “Rethinking Rum: Building Sustainable Futures for the Global Industry”, in which Barbados’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations, WTO and other International Organizations in Geneva, Matthew Wilson, participated.

Ambassador Wilson shared that Barbados is the birthplace of rum, and noted that like sugar, rum had a difficult history. He continued: “We can’t ignore that. It is wrapped up in a history of enslavement, colonialism, and exploitation. But the beautiful thing is how we, as a previously enslaved people, have taken this commodity and this industry and made it our own. Resilience is, after all, not a recent attribute for people from the Caribbean and people of African descent and indigenous communities. It is in our blood.”

The Ambassador also spoke of the intrinsic link between sugar, rum, and culture, which is one of the main motivators for the work that has been developed to have “Industrial Heritage of Barbados: The Story of Sugar and Rum” included in the tentative list of proposals put forward for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Another highlight of the Public Forum was the closing rum tasting event, which was organised by the Barbados and Guatemala Embassies and the WTO. Several countries in the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Indian Ocean showcased their rums, culture, and products.

Barbados had one of the “most in-demand stalls” at the event primarily because of the rum cocktails and showmanship of Bajan mixologist David Barker, whose participation was made possible by the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s Europe branch. The West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers Association provided the rum to the Embassy, while various ‘Bajan’ delicacies were supplied by Export Barbados.

At the event, attended by over 300 people, including the WTO Director, General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Ambassador Wilson said: “Rum is not just a drink for us in Barbados and the rest of the Caribbean. Remember that you are not just drinking a liquid. You are drinking history, culture, trade potential, and resilience.”

Rums from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mauritius, and Venezuela won in various categories in the amateur rum competition.

The WTO Public Forum, with hundreds of panels and engagement sessions, provides a unique platform for interaction among participants from around the world. Those persons get the opportunity to engage and discuss the latest developments in global trade and propose ways of enhancing the multilateral trading system, to make trade more inclusive and ensure that it benefits more people. (PR/GIS)

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Ecumenical Service For Legal Year 2024-2025 Next Monday

The Ecumenical Service to mark the commencement of the Legal Year 2024-2025 will be held at the Cathedral Church of St. Michael & All Angels, St. Michael’s Row, The City, on Monday, September 16, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Justices of Appeal, Judges of the High Court, Masters of the High Court, Magistrates, and Legal Practitioners are expected to be in attendance.

Jurors and other members of the public are encouraged to attend the service and to be seated by 8:30 a.m.

Meanwhile, the public is also advised that the High Court and the Magistrates’ Courts will sit at 1:00 p.m., on September 16. (PR/GIS)