MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF BAM – JASON THOMPSON

The passing of Gwenyth Squires is a significant loss for the Barbados Association of Masqueraders and the entire masquerade industry. On hearing of the passing of my collegue in mas, my mind went back to my personal masquerade journey, which started in her Kiddies Jadooment Band “The Settlers”, were I played in the section Arawaks. It is there that I established a love for mas, and laid a foundation on which I have then built.

Gwenyth’s last role on the BAM executive was as the Public Relations Officer, where she made her towering voice heard advocating for the development of policies and masquerade in Barbados.

“Gwenyth Squires!”
“Gwenyth Squires coming!”
“Wait, Gwenyth Squires pass here yet?”
“Gwenyth Squires win Band of the Year, again!”

Gwenyth Squires became a brand all of her own as she employed her creativity year after year to produce outstanding Junior and Grand Kadooments bands. Gwenyth devoted most of her life to costume designing. Her entry to the National Crop Over Festival was an embellishment to the standard and quality of mas producing, as she built many winning King and Queen individual costumes.

If you played in a section of Gwenyth Squires’ band, you played as an individual that was part of a whole. Therefore, if you were a pride of Barbados flower, you looked like one, and the portrayal and was expected to convince the viewer that you were that specified flower. Squires understood masquerade and theater of the streets. Her band’s presentations were like watching a movie. You understood each section(chapter), and saw the interrelations of all the sections.

Grandlady of Kadooment, take your bow. We thank you.
The world has lost an exceptional, hard-working costume designer. Go now Gwenyth, design the streets of the King’s highway.
May you rest in peace and rise in Eternal Glory, Gwenyth.

Jason Thompson
President (BAM)