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CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT SANDRA MASON

Fellow Barbadians, residents and visitors to our beautiful country, it is again that special time of the year when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child and pause to reflect on the significance of that phenomenal event to Christians worldwide.

The year 2023 saw the return to some semblance of normalcy following the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic over the previous two (2) years. I believe that we have accepted the fact that after the pandemic our lives can never be the same again. The incidence of COVID-19 has slowed considerably but we are continually being reminded that COVID is still with us.

With the resumption of several activities, we should now have a greater appreciation and awareness for some of the simple things that we took for granted and which we had to forego during the pandemic.

As we celebrate Christmas this year with the usual merriment, energy and enthusiasm we are cognisant of the many tensions, unrest and raging wars in many countries throughout the world. The one in the spotlight is the war in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas taking place in Palestine – the birth place of the baby Jesus. In this technological age, we can see the daily bombardment and destruction in the Gaza Strip and the continual loss of lives and displacement of families.

This raises the question of whether there will ever be peace. The reality however, is that there is the utmost need for peace.

Ironically, the essence of Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the promised Messiah, the Saviour of the world, the Prince of Peace, who symbolizes the hope, peace, love, joy and forgiveness that the world needed – and still needs today. His life exemplified love and forgiveness as necessary virtues for peaceful living.

The birth of Jesus and his life on earth revealed that he was not a one-time wonder but by his daily living he left us a legacy to guide us along the way.

In our global environment, peace appears elusive, as human beings seem never willing to co-operate and concede to the greater good. We need to understand that there are no winners in war because so much is lost both during and in the aftermath.

As we grapple with the daily diet of destruction, we cannot be overwhelmed and throw our hands in the air and give up all hope of change for the better.

Our National Pledge reminds us that we promised that “by my living to do credit to my nation wherever I go”.

In this context, I want to share a few examples of the “spirit of Christmas” that I have seen in the lives of Barbadians of all walks of life during the past year.

I note this year that within our National Honours and Awards some of our honourees were awarded for service to their communities in assisting the less fortunate and their volunteerism.

The Salvation Army has pointed out that since need has no season their feeding programme has been reaching out to more persons over the past year, given the circumstances that exist for many families.

I am aware that there are several corporate partners, social organisations, churches and individual citizens who are committed to the fight to ease the burden of the less fortunate. I am convinced however that if several of these programmes were streamlined we could spread a wider net and assist more vulnerable persons.

These acts of kindness and generosity are glimpses of peace, love and joy in action. These acts can diffuse many difficult situations and are signs of hope for several persons.

Our young people are our hope, light and joy and will be our future leaders. Many of them are leading productive lives in their different areas of endeavours.

This year was celebrated as Commonwealth Year of the Youthand I had the good fortune to meet several of our young people who received National Youth Awards for their outstanding and truly impressive achievements. I also met with the Gold Awardees in the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award programme which consists of young people who work in three specific sections for a minimum of one (1) year to complete various projects for the award. The award assists these young people in their personal and professional development.

It brings a smile to my face when I remember the bright, eager, confident and well mannered primary school students that I met over the past two (2) months. In them is our hope for the future. They are being selflessly guided by their hard working teachers who devote much time to their young charges.

All these young people are the reason why we must make the birth of Christ meaningful in our everyday living. We owe them a safe, peaceful environment surrounded by love and the opportunity to develop to their full potential.

I hope that on this Christmas Day, we pray for peace in the world and by our living ensure that we are vessels of peace in our communities and live each day full of the “spirit of Christmas”.

I wish all of you a Happy Christmas and every blessing in 2024.

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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