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Barbados Joined With Japan In Celebrating “Tenno Tanjobi”

Government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and the private sector joined last Friday, February 23, with the Japanese Embassy to celebrate “Tenno Tanjobi”, the Emperor’s birthday.

Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Sandra Husbands, extended greetings and congratulations, and the very best wishes to Emperor Naruhito on behalf of the Government and people of Barbados.

This was done during a reception at the Hilton Barbados Resort, where the President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, was also in attendance.

Minister Husbands noted that since Barbados and Japan established diplomatic relations on August 29, 1967, the relationship has been marked by mutual respect and cooperation and by collaboration in regional and multilateral fora.

“I am certain that we will continue to work at both the bilateral and multilateral levels to deepen our cooperation, … and to raise worldwide awareness of the unique vulnerabilities that small island developing states face,” Ms. Husbands stated.

The acting Foreign Affairs Minister disclosed that this year the friendship between CARICOM and Japan will be celebrated. “Indeed, Japan is one of the strongest bilateral partners of our Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States. Japan has played an instrumental role in the Caribbean region. And this year (2024) has been designated as the Japan-CARICOM Friendship Year.”

Minister Husbands noted that during the 56 years of relations with Japan, the country has assisted Barbados in several areas, including disaster preparedness; disaster risk management; capacity building training offered through the Japan International Cooperation Agency; and the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme.

In her remarks, Ambassador of Japan to Barbados, Kayoko Fukushima, reiterated her Emperor’s call in his New Year’s address, which underscored the importance of mutual understanding and collaboration to build peace in the world.

Ambassador Fukushima stated that after spending almost two years in this “beautiful country”, she is “elated” to have witnessed the broadening and deepening of relations between the two nations.

*Japan’s Ambassador to Barbados, Kayoko Fukushima.*

“Japan and Barbados share a friendly history grounded in the mutually shared values of freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights. I look forward to continued collaboration in the areas of climate change, renewable energy, disaster risk management, culture and education, as well as further engagement with the people of Barbados,” she said.

The Ambassador highlighted some of the activities that will mark the Japan-CARICOM Friendship Year, which included the recently-held Japanese Calendar Exhibition.

There will also be a guest seminar on Japanese Animation and the Content Industry, on Friday, March 1, and in April, a Japanese traditional folk dance and music exhibit. Later this year, there are plans to stage a Japanese film festival.

Ambassador Fukushima played two instrumentals on the keyboard – a Japanese folk song entitled “Sakura Sakura” and “Beautiful Barbados”. There was also a booth displaying origami as well as sampling of Japanese sweet treats and liquor, including wine from Nanyo City, in Northeastern Japan.

To conclude the event, Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey, made a Toast to the Emperor. Emperor Naruhito acceded to the Chrysanthemum Throne, on May 1, 2019. He is the 126th monarch, according to Japan’s traditional order of succession. (PR/GIS)

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SPECIAL POLLING DAY NOTICE

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FundAccess To Host Legal Clinic Workshop from May 13th

Entrepreneurs will soon get another opportunity to learn about critical legal matters that are key to the operation of their businesses.

FundAccess will be hosting The Legal Clinic Workshop, which will commence on Tuesday, May 13, and continue each Tuesday, until May 27, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The workshop will be facilitated by Attorney-at-law Ondene Kirton and participants will discuss Understanding Business Legal Structures; Contracts & Agreements; Employment Law & Compliance; and Examination of the Various Laws Relating to Small Business.

During those sessions, the participants will be exposed to sole proprietorship, partnerships, corporations – pro and cons; how to choose the right legal structure for a business; the importance of contracts in business operations; avoiding common contract pitfalls; and employee rights & employer responsibilities, among others. Some of the pieces of legislation to be examined include the Employment Rights Act and National Insurance and Social Security Act.

Interested persons may attend the workshop in person at FundAccess’ Pinfold Street, Bridgetown location, or online via the Zoom Platform. To register, click on the following link: https://bit.ly/3Fu09Jv.

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Centenarian Built On Firm Foundation Set By Grandmother

“Trust God first” is the mantra of one of Barbados’ newest centenarians, Athelstan Browne, who celebrated his 100th birthday on April 29, 2025, at his home in Montrose, Christ Church, surrounded by family and friends.

One of his specially invited guests was President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason.

Mr. Browne shared that he grew up “not knowing a mummy” as his mother passed away at age 23, when he was two years old, and his brother was only one year old.

Crediting his grandmother for his upbringing, Mr. Brown remarked: “I had a real good, good grandmother that raised two of us, and everything we learn before we went to school, she taught us.”

Pointing to a humble yet deeply religious upbringing, Mr. Browne said: “I and my brother slept on the floor. Our grandmother spread things down there, and she just put the pillow under our head.”

He recalled that they had to sing the hymn “Under the Blood” before going to bed, and first thing in the morning before they had breakfast, which usually consisted of “a cup of tea and two biscuits”. Adding that the hymn was “our song”, Mr. Browne sang the hymn from memory.

Stressing that his grandmother was a great provider, he noted: “My grandmother had land, and she would work the land…. We would eat raw potato, raw okras, (green) peas, cucumbers…. The only thing we did not eat was raw yams and eddoes.”

Mr. Browne continues to enjoy his ground provisions “with a little rice”, as he likes his rice with green peas, and if available, chicken boiled with the rice. “I am a fish man,” he remarked, eating it either fried or with a “stew sauce”.

Continuing to nurture his Christian beliefs, he joined the Mount Ararat United Holy Church (currently in Dayrell’s Road, Christ Church) in 1967, at age 33, and has continued there ever since.

Once the Superintendent of the Sunday School at the church, Mr. Browne is still instrumental in providing leadership to the youth there. “I have a crowd of young people at church that love me…especially when I have to talk to them…. It is what they should hear and what they should have,” he said.

The centenarian was raised in Montrose, Christ Church, and attended the Christ Church Boys’ School (now Milton Lynch Primary School). After leaving school, Mr. Browne initially took to agriculture but then worked cutting soft stone in two quarries in Christ Church.

In 1947, at the age of 22, he decided to join the US Farm Labour Programme and took the first Pan American Airlines flight out of Barbados. Over 10 years later, Mr. Browne returned to Barbados and married Monica Browne (deceased). Together, they built the house where he currently resides.

Returning to his roots in agriculture, the centenarian worked at the Ridge Plantation, Christ Church, until retirement. He also planted and reaped ground produce at home, as well as planted and cut canes.

Mr. Browne, who is generally in good health and has a sharp memory, still works around the home and enjoys reading, which he does without glasses. He also keeps in touch with his family in New York and North Carolina, and will do some travelling, but he is always ready to return home.

After toasting the centenarian, Her Excellency remarked: “You are in the midst of a lot of love, and I am sure you are going to enjoy the rest of your birthday. I am really happy to have met you. I am grateful for the work that you still continue to do with our young people because a lot of them lack direction, and we, nowadays, don’t take enough time to sit down and speak with them…. We don’t remind them that they are important, that they are somebody.”

Mr. Browne responded: “You got to make them understand what … the Lord expects of them… We have to acknowledge the Lord.”

Mr. Browne has two children, 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. (PR/GIS)

Caption: President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, and Barbados’ newest centenarian Athelstan Browne take a walk outside during his birthday celebrations in Montrose, Christ Church