Government buildings, roundabouts, schools across the island and Bridgetown were illuminated on Tuesday November 1st, signalling the start of Independence celebrations.
The Sagicor Life Inc. Lighting Ceremony and Bajan Brew, held in Heroes Square, Bridgetown, was a spectacle for those in attendance.
The ceremony was attended by President of Barbados, Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason; Chief Justice, Sir Patterson Cheltenham; Acting Prime Minister, Dr. William Duguid; Members of the Cabinet, Senate and Parliament of Barbados; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Yolande Howard, and members of the diplomatic corps.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Charles Griffith, in delivering the feature address, acknowledged the importance of the lighting ceremony under the theme “Recognition of Youth”.
He stated: “This is the first one (Lighting Ceremony) as a republic, and I’m deeply honoured to be here.
“I want to salute our young people who every single year believe that it is necessary to be engaged in building communities at parish level.”
Minister Griffith noted that seeing roundabouts lit across the island, and buildings in The City and the involvement of parish ambassadors and committees evoked “a certain level of pride”, and brought to mind the mantra, “this is who we are”.
He also took the opportunity to urge those present to shine the “light of humanity”. “I’m asking all of us to turn on the humanity light. I’ll give you an example of that, because this is at the macro level. I am a Minister in Government and we’re mandated as a Ministry to turn on lights that will impact our people.
“I was responsible for turning on the lights for the young people in this country and I have a team at the Ministry that is doing a fantastic job, but that is at the macro level. What is it that we’re doing at the micro level? What is it that we’re doing to ensure that we can break persons out of the darkness?” the Youth Minister asked.
Mr. Griffith highlighted the plight of a youth in Baxter’s Road, The City, who asked for assistance in obtaining food nightly but to no avail. As he lamented this situation, he suggested to the audience: “It is time we trigger that light of humanity; we flick the switch and then those words – this is who we are – would mean something in this country.”
The switch was flicked by young Barbados swimmer Gabriella Babb. (PR/GIS)
