Bajan Milestones 50th Anniversary Independence Magazine

BAJAN MILESTONES 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF

INDEPENDENCE SOUVENIR MAGAZINE

CONTENTS 3

Produced by Legacy Advertisting and Publishing Services #12 Hill View Crescent, Gibbons, Christ Church, Barbados | Tel: (246) 572-4716 | Email: legacyadverts@gmail.com Publishers Vickram P Singh Jacqueline M Singh To our Advertisers, Contributors, and Researchers and the very many individuals that so willingly shared their experiences, stories and images this book would not have been possible without your support.

We say a very special ‘Thank You’ The Ministry of Family, Culture, Sports and Youth Ms Marquetta Butcher Richard ‘Prof ’ Edwards Debra Hughes Dr Kerry Hall Ronnie Carrington Sir Phillip Greaves Dr. David Brown Mr Rawle Branker Ambassador Robert Erdiston College ‘Bobby ‘ Morris Dr Patricia Saul Celso Brewster and MacDonald Nicholls Nidhe Museum Barbados Olympic Sir Wes Hall Association Prof Devere Phillips Mr. Steve Stoute Paul Grant Mr Cameron Burke and Mr.Erskine Simmonds Dr Maureen Lucas Ms Andrea Alleyne/Girl Sir Prof Henry Fraser Guides of B’dos Jason Tudor Writers Tricia Williams Lee Sorenson Graphic Design Jamal Boodhoo Principal Photograhy Rasheed Boodhoo Editorial reference and support Nation publishing Co Barbados Advocate Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation Barbados Today Barbados Archives Barbados National Library UWI library Barbados Government Information Service © Reproduction of any material contained herein without written approval constitutes a violation of copyright

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Message from The Honourable Stephen A Lashley MP Minister of Family, Culture, Sports and Youth National Symbols Before the beginning…

Sir Philip Greaves

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“No Loitering On Colonial Office Premises” Address to the Barbados

Constitutional Conference in London, July 1966 by Errol Barrow

14 The Visionary Errol Walton Barrow

by Ambassador Robert ‘Bobby’ Morris

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Prime Ministers of Barbados

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Prime Minister The Honourable Freundel Stuart

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Opposition Leader Mia Amor Mottley by Debra Hughes

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Tourism:Towards Another 50 Dr. Kerry Hall

65 66 68 65 66 68 69

Sonic Boom!

The Sanctity of Barbados Nidhe Israel Synagogue & Museum Sonic Boom!

The Sanctity of Barbados Nidhe Israel Synagogue & Museum

BWU Co-operative Credit Union Limited Celebrating 50 years of Independence

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Tirelessly in the fight… The National HIV/AIDS Commission contribution to nationhood

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Cameron Burke & Erskine Simmons Reflect on Barbados Olympic Association history

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Barbados’ Governors General & Attorneys General

78 A conversation with Steven Stoute President of the Barbados Olympic Association

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Our Knights & Dames of St. Andrew

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The National Heroes of Barbados

The Labour Heroes of Barbados

by Ambassador Robert ‘Bobby’ Morris

30 40 42

Barbadian Icons

Doing Credit to Our Nation Erdiston College’s contribution

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A conversation with Dr. David Browne Principal of Queens College

Barbados an Adopted Home

49 50 years 40 Challenges The Barbados Council for the Disabled 51 52

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Strict Guardians of our Heritage Founder of Harris Paints: Ralph Johnson When We Weather the Storms In Talius We Trust Royalty on Broad Street 50 Years of Fabulous Finishes Trowel Plastics

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Elombe Mottley A Guardian of our Heritage

82 84 88

A reflection with Rawle Branker

Richard ‘Prof ’ Edwards Reflects on Peter Short and other Cricket legends

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Gertrude Eastmond A Reflection

94 95 96

The National Stadium

97 98 100 101 103 105 107 108

The Gymnasium

Looking back with Sir Wes Hall

Bushy Park: The Home of Speed

Kensington Oval: The Cricket Mecca The Garrison Savannah A Bajan belly full Blackbelly sheep Bajan Delicacies Chefette - Bajan for Fast Food Nicholls- We are Salt Bread The Cubana Disaster

The Hon. Freundel Stuart Q.C., M.P.

PRIME MINISTER

THE HONOURABLE

STEPHEN LASHLEY MP

MINISTER OF FAMILY, CULTURE, SPORTS AND YOUTH

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s we celebrate fifty (50) years of Independence, it is timely that we consider the legacy to which so many of our people have contributed. Some of these contributors are well known, while others fall into the category of unsung heroes. This however does not take away from the significant effort they have made to the development of our beautiful island.

“Bajan Milestones” is a publication that seeks to bring recognition to some of these persons, who in their various spheres of endeavour have done Barbados proud. It is therefore right and fitting that they be hailed and celebrated.

This is the vision behind this publication and is to be commended. As an initiative, “Bajan Milestones” assists with the recording of our nation’s history and adds to the Biography of the nation’s builders.

I wish to congratulate Mr. Vickram Singh and his team at Legacy Advertising and Publishing Services for providing us with such a publication. As a souvenir publication, I am sure that it will provide useful information to our many visitors and add to their experience.

Being a Barbadian product, it also gives us something to celebrate - the milestones of many of our people and by extension, the milestones

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A note from the Editors “To be young and to be alive in Barbados tonight, I feel as if I were in paradise already.”

These rapturous words were spoken by Errol Walton Barrow just moments after he took delivery of Barbados’ constitutional instruments of independence (from the Duke of Kent) on the night of Wednesday 30 November 1966.

Independence… an outstanding achievement and a timeless milestone that ushered in a Barbados that was destined to change forever. The people were aware of this, and the whole nation turned up in support of a Barbados that was free at last.

Fifty years on, we reflect on this most illustrious journey in the history of Barbados.

The development of Barbados as a small island with huge talent and world class achievements to boast, as we know it today, could not have been possible without the vision of oustanding political leaders, prominent national figures and Barbadians at large.

Health care, free education and improved transportation services and infrastructure are just a few aspects that over the years have distinguished the quality Barbadian life from that of other similar nations.

LEST WE SHOULD FORGET!... we must continue to chronicle and preserve the story of the cultural giants and the immense roles they have played in establishing a sound platform for our beautiful country to thrive. So, we present to you Bajan Milestones, which is an excellent attempt to ensure our history lives on.

Vickram P Singh Jacqueline M Singh

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NATIONAL SYMBOLS

In addition to geographical and cultural commonalities, all Barbadians identify with a distinct group of symbols, which define Barbados.

The Barbados Flag

The Coat of Arms

On the world stage, the island of Barbados is embodied by the blue, yellow and black. Properly represented as ultramarine, gold and black, the national colours are arranged in three equal vertical blocks. The gold block is cradled in the centre by the two ultramarine blocks, and the black ‘broken trident’ is emblazoned in the middle of the yellow block.

After declaring Independence from Britain, Barbadians were encouraged to enter their designs for a new flag, which would be flown and become synonymous with the island nation; art teacher Grantley Prescod’s design was selected from 1029 entries.

The ultramarine in the Barbados flag represents the sea and sky, and the gold the sand of the island’s beaches.

The trident, which is synonymous with the Roman god of the Sea, Neptune, is represented as a ‘broken trident’, which symbolizes Barbados severing its ties with Britain.

The national flag was not the only iconic image the island adopted after Independence. In addition, the coat of arms of Barbados was also adopted in 1966 by decree of Queen Elizabeth. Similar to other neighbouring former British colonies within the region, the Barbados coat of arms depicts a helmet, a national symbol above the helmet, and a shield ‘supported’ by two animals.

In this case, the national symbol is the arm of a native Barbadian grasping two sugar canes, which highlights the prominence and importance of the sugar industry to the island. It is also explained that the positioning of the sugar canes is a reference to St Andrew’s Cross, since Barbados gained its independence on St Andrew’s Day. On the shield is the national flower, the Pride of Barbados, and a bearded fig tree. Supporting the shield are a dolphin fish on the left and a pelican on the right. Below the shield on a scroll is the national motto, Pride and Industry.

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The National Anthem The National Anthem Although this symbol is not a tangible one like the others, it is without a doubt a part of the badge of Barbadian partisanship. The Barbados national anthem is a two-verse anthem, which is played at the official start of several public, private and governmental ceremonies across the island. It has echoed, and continues to echo, the values and aspirations of pride, industry and nationhood for several generations of Barbadians.

The music for the national anthem was composed

by C Van Roland Edwards, who set out on a career in composition while a pupil of St Peter’s Church Boy’s School. Despite not having any structured and formal training in the field, Edwards managed to become a devout member of the British Song Society in 1933. Moreover, he suffered partial blindness, and would later need to be assisted by family members in order to continue his passion.

Edwards is best known for compositions including The St Andrew Murder, The Goodman song, The Federation song and Welcome to Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II, which was sung during the official visit of the Queen to the island in February, 1966.

One year after Independence, however, the music of the National Anthem was tweaked and re-arranged by Inspector Prince Cave of the Royal Barbados Police Band; the adjustments gave the anthem a more sustained harmony, but preserved the original tune.

The lyrics of the national anthem of Barbados were penned by Irving Burgie. Born to a Barbadian mother and an American father in Brooklyn, New York, Burgie also composed music and lyrics for the musical Ballad for Bimshire and the film Island in the Sun, part of which was shot in Barbados.

The National Flower The national flower is the Pride of Barbados. A member of the legume family, the Pride of Barbados is also known as Barbados Flowerfence, Peacock Flower, or Dwarf Poinciana.

The species name is pulcherrima, literally meaning ‘very pretty’.

The Pride of Barbados blooms all year round, and across the island, the more common varieties are a fiery red and yellow ‘sunset’ colour although other variations can be found on the island. However, the national flower is most frequently depicted and accepted as the red variant with the yellow outline around the petals. It appears on the Barbados Coat of Arms. Other varieties are orange and a bright pink.

Interestingly, the Pride of Barbados can be found in several other tropical countries, and is seen a lot in Texas.

Historical documents show that the flower was referred to as far back as 1657. It falls under the broad category of a shrub and is often pruned into a low hedge. The Pride of Barbados shrub is capable of growing to a height of 10 to 15 feet if left to grow wild.

The flower basically has five petals with a yellow margin in most cases. Each has 10 stamens that are long, and the pistils always project from the centre of the flower. However, the fifth petal is significantly smaller than the other instantly visible four.

The varying hues depict the varying cultures, which make Barbados so unique.

The National Pledge I pledge allegiance to my country barbados And to my flag, To uphold and defend their honour, And by my living to do credit To my nation, wherever i go.

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Before the beginning…

Sir Philip Greaves, retired Parliamentarian

“In 1965, I was invited to join Mr. Barrow’s government, replacing Erskine Ward as Minister without portfolio and leader of the Senate. A few months later, I was asked to join a group working on a draft of a Constitution for an Independent Barbados, based on the Jamaican model, working alongside Cammie Tudor, Errol Barrow, Randolph Douglas, and Wilfred Ferguson.

Our draft was debated in Parliament, and was not fully accepted at first by many members of the Barbados Labour Party. In early 1966, I attended as a delegate to the Independence Conference in London, of which I am the only surviving delegate. The other delegates were Freddie Miller and Bernard St. John, with Henry Forde and Tom Adams attending as advisors.

It did not go smoothly. At the opening session, neither Barrow or Freddie Miller spoke, and there was much discussion about who would speak and when. Ernest Mottley spoke as leader of the Barbados National Party on the first day, but it wasn’t until the second day when the conference got going in earnest. Many parties with loyalties to England were communicating directly with the Colonial Office, and Mr. Barrow did not attend the conference until the second day.

On day two, the Colonial Secretary spoke to the conference, an address which made Mr. Barrow exceedingly unhappy with the proceedings, and resulted in Mr. Barrow lambasting the Colonial Secretary, saying: “You have come here to embarrass the Premier of Barbados.” The Colonial Secretary did not attend any subsequent meetings except for the final meeting where he announced the planned date of November 30th 1966 for Barbadian Independence.

Some groups in Barbados were unhappy with the decision, but in time everyone came to accept it. Sir Frederick Smith returned from Jamaica to become our first post-Independence Attorney General.

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It should be noted that, prior to Independence, nearly every community relied on a public standpipe for water, and many young students were attending classes barefoot.

The first five years of Independence saw dramatic improvements in the lives of Barbadians, when we were able to direct earnings from sugar cane production and tourism to improve housing, education, and the general standard of living. It is also worth noting that our improvements in education during this period included free secondary education for all, free school meals for primary schools, and the opening of the University of the West Indies Cave Hill campus, Barbados Community College, the Hotel School, and Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic, as well as several new secondary schools.

I ran for election and won my seat in 1971. I lost that seat in the 1976 election, regained it in 1981, and held it until my retirement. As Minister of Housing, I was very proud of the strides we made post-Independence in creating housing developments, as we consolidated several entities into the National Housing Corporation to ensure affordable housing for a wider swath of the population. We were even able to incorporate the emerging technology of solar water systems into our public housing projects.

Having devoted my working life to public service on behalf of all Barbadians, I’m very proud of what we have accomplished over the last 50 years. “

“NO LOITERING ON COLONIAL OFFICE PREMISES”

by Errol Barrow

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Our thanks to Dr Anthony De Vere Phillips for providing this document

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THE VISIONARY ERROL WALTON BARROW

Errol Walton Barrow was born on the 21st of January as the fourth child of Reverend Reginal Grant Barrow and his wife Ruth (nee O’Neal). He was born at the Garden, in St. Lucy, or as he put it: “I was born in the middle of a sugar cane field.”

It can be argued that one’s vision is shaped by a number of factors: inheritance, environment, choices made, and relationships being preeminent. It can be further argued that the point of view from a position of eminence will vary from the point of view from a position of depression.

In spite of the self-deprecating reference to being born in a cane field, it must be noted that the Garden was one of a number of plantations owned by Barrow’s family.

From both his paternal and maternal sides, Barrow inherited the genes of achievers. His father Reverend Reginal Grant Barrow received secondary and tertiary education at a time when most Barbadians had to be satisfied with a primary seventh standard education.

On his mother’s side his grandfather Joseph Jathan Chaderton O’Neal was a legendary blacksmith, plantation owner, boat owner and proprietor with many business places and houses in the City. His uncle, now Rt. Excellent Charles Duncan O’Neal was a graduate of Edinburgh University, and the founder of the institutions which fostered the growth of political parties and trade unions in Barbados.

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by Ambassador Robert ‘Bobby’ Morris

Errol Barrow had to choose between following in his father’s footstep and taking a degree at Codrington College or joining the British war effort. He chose the latter. From that experience he achieved multiple learnings, and created relationships which were important in shaping his vision for the future.

As an officer of the Royal Airforce Errol Barrow’s occupational pursuit introduced him to scientific learning and experties. As the personal navigator of Sir Shelto Douglas, Air Commander in Chief of the British Zone of Germany, later Lord Douglas of Kirtleside and Chairman of British Airways, he spent many hours between the sky and the land, passing across many countries, and this helped to shape his perspective. His many hours in the air, and when he was free of his duties, he would have used for conceiving the vision that he wanted for Barbados.

The lonely place in an airplace overlooking thousands of miles of country and sea was the elevation that shaped much of his thinking.

In demobbing from the war his choice of study at the London School of Economics between 1947 and 1950, graduating with two degrees in Law and Economics, simultaneously making several friendships, being engaged with the British Labour Party and being the Chairman of the Council of Colonial students, helped to sharpen his vision. His choice of Democratic Socialism as a guiding ideology was heightened by his studies under Professor Harold Laski.

BARROW’S MODEL FOR DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH The Rt Excellent Barrow recognized the limitations of the plantation economy and set about to change Barbados through the processes of increasing knowledge to empower locals, promoting capital accumulation in the private sector and in the state, increasing savings and productivity.

Between the 1960’s and up to the 1980’s Barrow used development planning to the advantage of Barbados.

The graduates of the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, after 1963; the Barbados Community College after 1968, especially with its Divisions of Technology, Commerce and Hospitality were to drive the knowledge to help capital development. The institution of the Barbados Institute of Management and Productivity was also part of this development, as well as the Barbados Workers’ Union Labour College. A managerial class, and an educated workforce were both seen as necessary for national development.

Complementary support would come from the passage of the Industrial Incentives Act of 1963, and the formation of the Barbados Development Board and the Barbados Development Bank. The opening of the Pine Hill Dairy in 1966, and the Agricultural Development Corporation in 1965 were to be game changers in both agricultural and industrial development. The building of the Barbados Hilton in 1966 was also an indication of where Mr. Barrow wanted to take the economy. By the 1970’s import substitution was demonstrated in industries at Grazettes, Newton and other places. During the Barrow era, Barbados was transformed from being a plantation economy and the shape of modern Barbados was clearly established.

The transfer of land ownership in the process of developing a class of local owners of capital, led to projects in Town and Country under Errol Barrow. After Independence several housing and land developments such as at Cave Hill, Oxnards and Husbands, as well as Sandford and Gibbons brought a new sense to land and house ownership for Barbadians.

Barrow’s establishment of the Central Bank of Barbados, and its link of the Barbados dollar to the US dollar at the ratio of 2:1 was central to his plan for development and growth of the economy.

Errol Barrow may have been physically absent from Barbados between 1940 and 1950, when the Social Revolution was being driven by Grantley Adams, now Rt. Excellent Sir Grantley Adams, but it was the time when he was planning to gain the tools, and sharpen the vision to take Barbados further.

The relationship built up at University with persons such as Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore, Michael Manley of Jamaica, Rawle Farley of British Guiana, and Pierre Trudeau of Canada, among others would help further shape his vision for Barbados and the Caribbean, and to impact the strategic priorities he would choose for national development.

Barrow’s vision was to transform Barbados into a middle income country, with a diversified economy, and a well educated population. In foreign affairs it was to be “friends of all and satellites of none”. Self-reliance, pride and industry were to be engines of development. The political party, in association with the trade union would establish social democratic ideals, with mixed economy. Regionalism would be a major engagement. Planning mechanisms would be used extensively.

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PAST

PRIME MINISTERS OF BARBADOS

Errol Barrow

1966-1976 & 1985-1987 Errol Walton Barrow is the Father of Barbados’ Independence. After being educated at the Wesley Hall primary school, Combermere and Harrison College, his interest in the military caused him to enlist to serve in the Royal Air Force in November of 1940.

Seven years later in 1947, he traveled to the university of London University where his studies would culminate in his admittance to the Bar as well as a degree in economics the following year.

For Barrow, 1950 was a year of several notable events.

Tom Adams

He returned the island after his studies to function as a practicing barrister-at-law. Shortly after, he was called to the Barbados Bar, and soon his insatiable passion for political economics led him to becoming a member of the Barbados Labour Party - he also won a seat in the parish of St. George this same year.

However, by 1955, he broke away to form his own political party, the Democratic Labour Party, which he successfully led to victory in 1961 to become Premier of Barbados until he steered the island to Independence in 1966. Barrow then served the island as Prime Minister from 1966 to 1976, and again from 1985 until his sudden death in 1987.

Harold St John

September 8th, 1976 – March 11th, 1985

March 11th, 1985 – May 29th, 1986

The island’s second Prime Minister, ‘Tom’ Adams was christened Jon Michael Geoffrey Manningham Adams, the only son of the first Premier of Barbados, Sir Grantley Adams. Educated at Harrison College and later in the United Kingdom, he was called to the British Bar in 1965 and returned to Barbados a year later.

By 1970, he was the leader of the Opposition, the Barbados Labour Party, and defeated the incumbent Democratic Labour Party in elections 1976. He led the country for two consecutive terms, with a conservative bent to his politics, a stark contrast to the previous administration.

Moreover, he was responsible for the Tenantries Freehold Purchase Act to address issues of land ownership following Independence; the Administrative Justice Act; the Status of Women Report, which sought to improve the plight of underclass women; the Status of Children Reform Act which eliminated the concept of illegitimacy from the statue books.

He was the first of three Prime Ministers of Barbados to die in office.

Harold Bernard St John became Barbados’ third Prime Minister following the untimely passing of Tom Adams in 1985. As a professional lawyer, his practice extended to Trinidad and throughout the eastern English-speaking Caribbean.

In 1959, he joined the Barbados Labour Party, and was elected to the newly-formed House of Assembly postIndependence, serving as a member of the Opposition in the Senate between 1971 and 1976, before returning to the House of Assembly in 1976 to serve under the ‘Tom’ Adams administration.

Under Adams’s administration, St John held the portfolios of Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Trade and Industry and Minister of Tourism. He served as Prime Minister for one year, losing the subsequent general election. In 1994, Bree St John was awarded one of the island’s highest national honours when he was conferred the title of Knight of St Andrew.

He died on February 29th 2004 at the age of 72.

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Erskine Sandiford

June 1st, 1987 – September 7th, 1994 Lloyd Erskine Sandiford was the island’s fourth Prime Minister, assuming office in 1987 on the sudden death of Errol Barrow. Sandiford joined the Democratic Labour Party and was appointed to the Senate in 1967; he left the Senate to pursue a seat in the House of Assembly which he won during the 1971 elections. Once in Government, Sandiford held many posts, including Minister of Education and Minister of Economic Affairs & Tourism, before becoming Deputy Prime Minister to Errol Barrow.

He assumed the position of Prime Minister in 1987, but faced tough challenges. While his unpopular fiscal policies showed his dedication to financial stability and to economic progress, they were to result in his demise: facing a noconfidence vote in the Assembly, he called the 1994 election two years early, and lost.

He remained in Parliament until 1999, andn in 2000, Sandiford was credited with the highest national honour when he was granted the rank and title of Knight of St Andrew.

Owen Arthur

September 7th, 1994 - January 16th, 2008 The island’s fifth Prime Minister Owen Seymour Arthur was educated at Coleridge and Parry School and then Harrison College. He completed an undergraduate degree in economics and history and a Master in Social Sciences from the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill and Mona campuses.

After a professional stint in Jamaica, he returned home in 1981, and two years later began his political career in earnest when he was appointed into the Senate. In 1984, Arthur ran for the House of Assembly, losing by one vote.

True to his trademark tenacity, he appealed to the Barbados High Court and the resulting re-election led to membership of the House of Assembly.

Chosen as Leader of the Opposition BLP in 1993, Arthur was elected Prime Minister of Barbados the following year, and his continued policy of inclusion led to a landslide BLP victory in the 1999 general election, winning a second term, and 26 of the total 28 Assembly seats.

Defeated in the 2008 general election, Owen Arthur had served for 14 years, the longest period in office for a Prime Minister since Independence.

David Thompson

January 16th 2008 – 23 October 2010 Born on December 25th, 1961, David Thompson came to politics in a by-election after the death of then Prime Minister Errol Barrow, gaining his parliamentary seat for the St John constituency in 1987. During Erskine Sandiford’s term as Prime Minister, Thompson served as Minister of Community Development and Culture from 1991 to 1993. He was subsequently appointed Minister of Finance from 1993 to 1994. Shortly after, the party saw a resignation

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and change of leadership, and it was then that Thompson became leader of the party; however, the party suffered defeat in the 1994 and 1999 elections. Thompson resigned as party leader in September 2000 following a third defeat, but returned as opposition leader in January 2006.

He would lead his party to electoral victory two years later in 2008. Thompson died in office in 2010.

PRIME MINISTER FREUNDEL STUART

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fter the untimely passing of Prime Minister David Thompson, Freundel Stuart was given the task of continuing to take this growing nation towards higher heights. Now, as Prime Minister of Barbados, Stuart engages a scholarly fashion and demonstrates strong political prowess in a bid for his nation’s prosperity.

Freundel Jerome Stuart was born in a St Philip neighborhood on April 27th, 1951. As a youth, he attended St Marks Boys’ and St Martin’s Junior schools, both in his home parish, and later enrolled at the then Christ Church Boys’ Foundation School. It was at the Foundation School that Stuart met and was primed by his mentor Lee Harford Skeete, who held the dual roles of headmaster and teacher in Latin and Law at the institution. Skeete would make an indelible mark on young Stuart, and it was at that tender age that Stuart began his quest to pursue a legal career.

After graduating from his secondary school and a short teaching stint, Stuart pursued and received a Bachelors of Art degree in Political Science and History from the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus in 1975.

His determination and personal promise to become a law practitioner led Stuart to re-enroll at the university for a second time, this time undertaking an LLB degree in 1980 from the Faculty of Law. For the next two years, he would embark on his Masters of Law degree in Public International Law at UWI Cave Hill, after which he went on to the Hugh Wooding Law School to obtain the Legal Education Certificate.

Freundel Stuart accomplished his childhood dream in 1984, when he was called to the Barbados Bar. His practice focused on criminal and later civil law, and in 2008, he was admitted to the Inner Bar and appointed a Queen’s Counsel.

But Stuart would not be resigned to life as a law practitioner.

Almost around the same time he was indoctrinated by his law mentors, Stuart developed a keen interest in politics. This interest later compelled him to officially join the Democratic Labour Party in 1970. Ever since his formal recruitment to the political party, Stuart has been a stalwart and has functioned in a range of capacities and executive positions within the party, including that of President.

He would make the shift into elective politics in 1994, showing his loyalty to his home ground by representing the St Philip South Constituency, and remained in Parliament until 1999. However, he suffered some setbacks as he was defeated at the polls and lost the St Philip South seat in the elections that same year. Nevertheless, he served in the Upper House, Senate, from 2003 to 2007. Less than five years later, Stuart returned to Parliament after his party came out on top of the 2008 general elections with a landslide victory.

From 2008, and while under the rule of his predecessor David Thompson, Stuart was Attorney General and held the portfolio of Minister of Home Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister. During Thompson’s battle with illness, Stuart acted as Prime Minister from May 2010. Tragically, within a few months, Prime Minister Thompson would succumb to cancer, and Stuart assumed the position as Barbados’ seventh Prime Minister.

The unfortunate circumstances that led to Freundel Stuart taking leadership of the country will never be overlooked, but the island is truly blessed to have another stalwart at the helm, leading its people towards prosperity in light of adversity.

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Bridgetown lit for Independence celebrations

OPPOSITION LEADER MIA AMOR MOTTLEY

by Debra Hughes

Mia Amor Mottley is a household name in Barbados and indeed, much of the Caribbean. She is one of a younger generation of post-Independence politicians that have made their mark on national life in their own countries and the region.

In Mottley’s case, this comes as no surprise. Both her father Elliott, and her grandfather E.D. Mottley represented the City of Bridgetown in the House of Assembly and a young Mia grew up surrounded by politics and many of the great Caribbean leaders of the last century. She also followed her father’s footsteps in the law, where she excelled in criminal law at the Barbados Bar. A fiery debater with a charismatic personality, Mia is as at home on the floor of the House of Assembly as she is at one of her constituency karaoke limes. Her large electoral majority is ample proof of this. She has served her constituents in St. Michael North-East since 1994 when the Barbados Labour Party was returned to office after two terms in Opposition.

Mia has broken many glass ceilings in her political career.

At 28 she was one of the youngest Cabinet Ministers in Barbados, she is the first woman to be appointed AttorneyGeneral and is the youngest ever Queen’s Counsel in Barbados. As Political Leader of the Barbados Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition there only remains one final ceiling - that of Prime Minister. If you have the occasional wager, don’t bet against her.

She has been busy over the last year or so preparing her Party for the next General Election, constitutionally due in 2018, nominating an attractive slate of thirty candidates, many of whom are new to the political scene, giving a freshness and vibrancy to the oldest political party in the English speaking Caribbean.

Her capacity for hard work and her attention to detail are legendary in political circles and her calm, assuring handling of the fire at the Glendairy Prison in 2005 that forced the emergency relocation of the entire prison population cemented her reputation as a future leader of the country.

It has not all been smooth sailing however, for this fifty-oneyear old politician. Her Barbados Labour Party lost twice at the polls in 2008 and and 2013 under the leadership of former Prime Minister, Owen Arthur. Her colleagues replaced her as Opposition Leader with Arthur once more, after he had stepped aside following his 2008 defeat only to have history repeat itself in 2013. A lesser character might have given up on leadership, but her commitment to her country and her Party has never wavered. In politics, the first and best learnt lesson is to roll with the punches and remain focussed on your primary duty to represent people..

Mia Amor Mottley has matured into a sound, well-reasoned politician with a wide command of the intricacies of the Barbados economy and what it will take to put the country back on a healthy footing. But above all else, it is her passion for people that stands out and inspires others, even across and outside the traditional political lines that distinguishes her. As Barbados embarks on its second half century as an independent nation, political observers will await with interest whether Barbadians will choose their first female Prime Minister.

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BARBADOS’ Governors-General 1966 - present

Attorneys-General 1966 - present

Sir John Montague Stow 1966-1967

Sir Frederick Smith 1966 to 1971

Sir Arleigh Winston Scott 1967-1976

George Moe 1971 to 1976

Sir. William Douglas 1976 &1984

Sir Henry de Boulay Forde 1976 to 1981

Sir Deighton Ward 1976-1984

Louis Tull 1981 to 1985

Sir Hugh Springer 1984-1990

Sir David Anthony Simmons 1985 to 1986 1994 to 2001

Dame Nita Barrow 1990-1995

Maurice Athelstan King 1986 to 1994

Denys Williams 1995-1996

Mia Mottley 2001 to 2003

Clifford Husbands 1996-2011

Dale Marshall 2006 to 2008

Elliot Belgrave 2011-present

Freundel Stuart, 2008 to 2010 (departed the position to become acting PM)

Adriel Brathwaite 2010 to present

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1990-1999 2000 onward

B

arbados is known for its outstanding people, but amongst us is a group of pedigree Barbadians that have contributed heavily to the island’s development and industries.

Not to be confused with the Knights Bachelor - suffix Kt - who are knighted by the monarch but do not belong to an Order, these individuals carry the post nominal letters of KA (Knight) and DA (Dame), and are recognized under the Order of Barbados, the island’s interpretation of the British Honours System which was used on the island until 1980.

Therefore, we acknowledge our fellow Barbadian Knights and Dames of St. Andrew.

1980-1989

Our Knights and Dames of St. Andrew

Sir MacDonald Blunt, KA Dame Elsie Payne, DA Sir Erskine Ward, KA Dame Nita Barrow, GCMG, DA, OCC Sir Kenneth Hunte, KA, OBE Sir Edwy Talma, KA, CBE Sir Maurice Byer, KA, OBE Sir Ronald Mapp, KA Sir Neville Osborne, KA, OBE Sir Donald Wiles, KA, CMG, OBE Sir Frank Blackman, KCVO, KA, OBE Senator Sir Frank Walcott, KA, OBE Sir Keith Donnerson Hunte, KA Sir Frederick Smith, KA, QC Sir Stanley Augustus Blanchette, KA Sir William Harvey Clyde Gollop, KA, MBE, JP Sir Kenmore Nathaniel Rhystone Husbands, KA, CBE, JP The Hon. Sir Douglas Percy Lynch, KA, CMG, QC Sir Neville Vernon Nicholls, KA Sir James Cliviston King, KA, OBE Sir John Stanley Goddard, KA Sir Clyde Leopold Walcott, KA, OBE, AA The Hon. Sir Harold Bernard St. John, KA, QC Sir Clifford Straughn Husbands, KA Dame Edna Ermyntrude Bourne, DA His Honour Sir Fred Winlyn Gollop, KA Sir Henry deBoulay Forde, KA, QC Sir Courtney Blackman, KA Sir Conrad Hunte, KA Sir Stephen Errol Emtage, KA The Rt. Hon. Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford, KA, JP The Rt. Rev. Sir Wilfred Denniston Wood, KA, JP Sir David Anthony Cathcart Simmons, KA, BCH Sir Aubrey Gordon Leacock, KA, CBE Sir Roy Cardinal Trotman, KA The Hon. Dame Billie Antoinette Miller, DA, BCH, MP Sir Richard Christopher Haynes, KA, FRCP The Hon. Sir Richard Lionel Cheltenham, KA, QC, JP Dame Olga Christine Lopes-Seale, DA, GCM, MBE, BSS Sir Louis Randall Tull, KA, QC, MP Sir Hilary McDonald Beckles, KA Sir Kyffin Donald Simpson, KA, CBE Sir Philip Marlowe Greaves, KA, QC Sir Maurice Athelstan King, KA, QC Sir Marcus deLambert Jordan, KA Sir Branford Mayhew Taitt, KA The Hon. Sir Errol Ricardo Walrond, KA Sir Marston Creighton Dacosta Gibson, KA Sir Frank Walton Alleyne, KA Sir Trevor Austin Carmichael, KA Sir Trevor Austin Hassell, KA

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THE

NATIONAL HEROES

OF BARBADOS

The Order of National Heroes Act, passed by the island’s Parliament in 1998, formally recognized the stature of 10 major figures in the history of Barbados.

National Heroes are styled ‘The Right Excellent’.

Bussa

three-day, island-wide rebellion used the element of surprise as its major weapon, and was executed on several estates as an attempt at total reconstruction of society. On Tuesday, April 16th, catching the white planters off-guard, Bussa led approximately 400 freedom fighters into battle at Bayley’s sugar estate, where he was head ranger. While the rebellion failed, Bussa’s legacy lives on: in 1985, 169 years after the revolt, the Emancipation Statue was unveiled, commonly referred to as the Bussa Statue.

(???? - 1816) Barbados’ most celebrated freedom fighter, Bussa, was born a free man in Africa, before being brought to the island as a slave in the late 18th Century. He was later renowned for leading the island’s longest slave revolt in April 1816, which became known as the Bussa Rebellion. Carefully planned, the

Sarah Ann Gill

homes for church members to meet. She was prosecuted twice by magistrates for going against the divine worship act of the time, and eventually by the House of Assembly.

On the return to Barbados in 1825 of the Reverend Moses Rayner, a new chapel was built on land bought from Sarah Ann at the current James Street Church site, behind which she was buried. The Gill Memorial Church at Eagle Hall was built in her honour in 1893, replaced in the late 1980s, by the new Gill Memorial Church, at Fairfield Road, St Michael.

(1795-1866)

A free coloured woman and a full member of the Methodist Church by 1820, she bravely faced the stigma attached to those of her denomination, who were seen to be anti-slavery agitators. Following the destruction of the island’s first Methodist chapel by white rioters in 1823, Sarah Ann and her sister-in-law, Christiana Gill opened their

Samuel Jackson Prescod (1806-1871)

Samuel Jackman Prescod is best known for his efforts to improve the conditions of ‘free coloured’ people, while fighting to liberate the slaves.

He built up The Liberal Party, fighting for social justice for more than 25 years, and as a newspaper editor, he used the medium to denounce the oppressive practices of the planters, while providing free discussion

on relevant topics of the time. In his quest to change the plight of the free coloureds, he achieved for them the right to vote in 1831. He became the first non-white to sit in the House of Assembly and remained there for nearly 20 years, becoming the leader of a small group of white members, the Liberal Party, which was the unofficial ‘opposition’ of the time. He was key in getting adjustments made to the Police Act, and later became Judge of the Assistant Court of Appeal, following his retirement. Decades after his death, the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic was named after him.

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Charles Duncan O’Neal

founded the socialism-based Democratic League, attracting those from the coloured and black middle class. He then won a seat in the House of Assembly, an opportunity he took to improve working conditions for adults, while abolishing child labour. Having been a recipient of a Barbados Scholarship in 1899, O’Neal used his position in the House of Assembly to increase scholarship grants. He is forever immortalized on the Barbados $10 note, and his name emblazoned on a bridge in Bridgetown.

(1879-1936)

Charles Duncan O’Neal was a physician, social agitator, politician and champion for the rights of the down-trodden, in particular women.

He found himself drawn into politics, winning a County Council seat in the north of England while living there. On his return to Barbados, after sojourns in Trinidad and Dominica, he

Clement Osbourne Payne

(1904-1941)

Clement Osbourne Payne was a charismatic orator passionate about helping the working poor and known for his slogan ‘educate, agitate but do not violate’. In 1937, he appeared before the City Magistrate on a charge that he wilfully made a false statement concerning his place of birth. Found guilty, he appealed the decision, but matters came to a head when he and about 300 others marched

to the Governor’s residence; Payne was among those arrested and, while the others were freed and his conviction was overturned, he was deported. On hearing this, his supporters rioted for four days. So significant were these developments that the need for change was recognised, sparking a Commission of Inquiry, which found that Payne’s charges against the establishment were true, insisting on his suggested reforms, including the introduction of trade union legislation. This is regarded as his most significant achievement. A cultural centre bears his name, with its mission to educate Barbadians about their history and his struggle.

Sir Grantley Herbert Adams

Assembly at 36, he used his position to spur change, often using his mastery of debate to make his point. Following the riots of 1937, Adams sailed to England to give evidence to the Dean Commission of Enquiry; using the opportunity to make a statement against social injustices, he argued that the riots were the result of abject poverty, and would not have occurred had social change been implemented. Shortly after the 1938 launch of the Barbados Progressive League (later the Barbados Labour Party), Adams took the helm. In the 1940s, along with Hugh Springer, he was instrumental in bringing significant changes to Barbados in the areas of labour, industry, health and education, often at great personal and professional risk. The $100 note bears his likeness and a St Joseph school bears his name.

(1898-1971)

Sir Grantley Herbert Adams QC Kt Bachelor CMG was the first Premier of Barbados and the only Prime Minister of the now-defunct West Indies Federation. Regarded by many as a Messiah, he never sought such accolades, instead focusing on social reform, working to ensure justice for all, regardless of social standing, race or ethnicity. A highly-respected lawyer, he made it his mission to persuade the elite and those in positions of power to accept the poor as human beings. Elected to the House of

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Sir Hugh Worrell Springer

Education, Legal Departments, Agriculture and Fisheries in the Progressive League-Congress Party Coalition, which was headed by the island’s first Premier, Grantley Adams.

Before that, within the Progressive League (precursor to the Barbados Labour Party), Springer had used his administrative skills to benefit the labour movement.

Outside Barbados, he was Registrar of the University College of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, and held a number of high-ranking Commonwealth positions. He is credited with creating ‘the first BWU headquarters at the corner of Fairchild and Nelson Streets’, also attracting membership from a cross-section of trade and professions, including agriculture, docking, the utilities, government, clerical and white collar workers; in all this, he was ably supported by his assistant, Frank Walcott.

(1913-1994)

The third native Governor General of Barbados, Sir Hugh Worrell Springer GCMG KCMG GCVO KA CBE OBE had distinguished academic and public service careers and has been described as one of the greatest Barbadians. Oxford-educated, the lawyer, educator, politician and parliamentarian was also known as an outstanding administrator. As the first General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), he strove to ensure fair conditions for workers; as a politician, he continued that work. Pre-Independence, Springer held responsibilities for

Sir Frank Leslie Walcott (1916-1999)

Sir Frank Leslie Walcott was a giant in the local labour movement, building on the work of Grantley Adams and Hugh Springer in developing a formal workers’ union. During nearly 50 years of service to the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), he rose through the ranks from clerk to succeed Springer as General Secretary in 1947. A skilled debater (‘Frank by name and frank by nature’) with a passion for labour issues, Walcott worked to separate the union from its partnership with the Barbados Labour Party, organised an effective accounting system and made the

Errol Barrow (1920 - 1987)

With the failure of the Federation by 1962, followed by similar failure of the Little Eight by 1965, and with Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago already Independent by 1962, it was clear that Barbados would proceed to Constitutional Independence at the earliest time - and Errol Barrow was ready to take on this task. Errol Walton Barrow is recognised by Barbadians

union more militant. Tough and dynamic, shrewd but levelheaded, he attracted blue and white collar members to the union. The island’s long-standing record of civil stability and peaceful protest has been attributed to Walcott, who is also credited with the creation of the Social Partnership and the establishment of the Labour College at Mangrove, St Philip.

He served as a Member of Parliament and was knighted for his contribution to social reform in Barbados, including the affordable housing and scholarships that many Bajans enjoy to this day. His influence also extended outside Barbados among other regional and international positions, he served on the Executive Board of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions from 1953 until his retirement in 1991.

of all races, classes, creeds and political persuasions, as the individual who must be given most credit for the attainment of Constitutional Independence for Barbados on November 30th, 1966. In addition to this tremendous achievement, he is also heavily accredited with the island’s early infrastructure restoration programmers, free secondary education as well as debushing programmes and unemployment schemes - the latter of which are still in place today.

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THE NATIONAL HERO ALIVE:

SIR GARFIELD SOBERS

O

of living batsmen.” John Arlott, doyen of cricket writers, described him as the finest al-round player in the history of cricket, and Caribbean renaissance man, politician, cricket aficionado and craftsman of language, Michael Manley, wrote in his History of West Indies Cricket: “He was so great a player that one must be careful lest he obscure the history of events and the texture of the times . . . he was destined to shine like some great star alone in the firmament of his own genius.” And in the book One hundred years of organised cricket in Barbados, 1892 to 1992, Sir Carlisle Burton, Ronnie Hughes and Professor Keith Sandiford wrote: “He became the complete bowler. No individual in the history of cricket has been as versatile a bowler as Sobers at his peak.”

He has been a tireless consultant with the Minister of Tourism, associated with hundreds of international school cricket teams, and serving as the model Tourism Ambassador for Barbados. He promotes the International Schools Cricket Tournament (the 25th Anniversary fell this year) and the Sir Garfield Sobers Festival of Golf.

On April 28, 1998, Sir Garfield St. Aubrun Sobers was bestowed the honour of National Hero on the grounds of Government Headquarters in Bay Street in front of several adoring fans and well-wishers. And although he bears so many accolades and has been the subject of global acknowledgements, his humility, charm and wit will resonate across generations just as widely and forcefully as his celebrity as a world-class cricketer.

n the 28th of July, 2016, the most lauded - and best - cricketer the world has ever seen celebrated his greatest milestone yet - his 80th birthday. The day was met with national celebration, as Barbadians flocked to the Kensington Oval to celebrate the life and reflect on the outstanding achievements of the great sportsman. So, on this occasion as we reflect, let us take the time to tell the story of the island’s only living hero, and one of cricket’s longest living legends.

Sir Gary - as he is affectionately known - was scouted at 14 by Captain Wilfred Farmer, who recruited him into the Police Band, so that he could play, first for the Police Boys Club and then the Police. After two years of club cricket he was chosen for Barbados against India in February 1953 (aged 16) as a spinner, taking seven wickets and bowling 40 maiden overs! In 1954, at 17, he played his first test at Sabina Park, taking four wickets and scoring 40 runs, signalling the start of an era – the Sobers era of West Indian World Cricket dominance.

Sir Gary’s extraordinary career has been a celebration of world records including his world test record of 365 runs. He had the highest aggregate of runs ever in his 93 tests (a record exceeded later only by those playing many more matches), plus 109 catches and 235 wickets, ranking with the greatest specialist bowlers; and then there was his ‘impossible’ feat of six sixes in one over.

The great C L R James wrote: “Sobers is the greatest

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THE LABOUR HEROES OF BARBADOS

by Ambassador Robert ‘Bobby’ Morris

I

n 1988, some twenty-two years after the arraignment of Independence, Barbados established a pantheon of National Heroes, and established Heroes Day on the birth date of Rt. Excellent Sir Grantley Herbert Adams. January 21st had been established in 1987, as the date of commemorating the birth of National Hero, Rt. Excellent Errol Walton Barrow.

Because of the historic link between the trade union and the political party it is not surprising that many of our heroes may be categorized as Labour Heroes because of their commitment to the organizations of the masses.

Thus the title of Labour Hero may be given to Rt. Excellent Charles Duncan O’Neal (1879-1937), Rt. Excellent Clement Osbourne Payne (1904-1940), Rt. Excellent Grantley Herbert Adams (1898-1971), Rt. Excellent Hugh Warren Springer (1913-1994), and RT. Excellent Frank Walcott (1916-1999).

The combined work of these National Heroes led to the decolonization of Barbados, starting in the early twentieth century and culminating on the 30th of November, 1966. There was an overlap in the lives of the Heroes, and some of them like Adams, Springer and Walcott worked very closely in the building of the Progressive League and in the early years of the Barbados Workers’ union. Payne and O’Neal were front runners, and they set a fiery pace on the track to be picked up by the others in the relay or to use a cricketing ……..they were the solid opening batsmen. Of these leaders the Rt. Excellent Grantley Adams takes pride of place for his contribution to Barbados Development at the international, regional and local level. Even though Sir Hugh’s period of time in the local movement was short from a temporal perspective, his contribution was significant.

In relation to his contribution to the attainment of National Independence, and his role in the nation building and development, Rt. Excellent Frank Leslie Walcott stands pre-eminent. His support of Mr. Barrow and the Democratic Labour Party against those who stood against the move to Independence is well acknowledged. He was never an official of a political party after his break with the Barbados Labour Party in 1954. However, he fostered a unique brand of political unionism where the trade union was able to cooperate with the political party without being dominated by the latter. He worked closely with the Democratic Labour Party and Rt. Excellent Errol Walton Barrow after 1966.

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BARBADIAN ICONS

A

s a nation, Barbados has long maintained a reputation for punching above its weight, as so eloquently explained by former Prime Minister, the late Errol Barrow, in his address to the Barbados Constitutional Conference in London in July 1966, months before Independence was granted.

In the 50 years that have passed since then, dozens, perhaps hundreds, of

Ryan Brathwaite

Wendy Alleyne

Roger Mayers

Alissandra Cummins

individual Barbadians have taken a lead from their country and decided to take the region, or the world, head-on in their chosen field. Sadly, space does not allow all of them to be acknowledged, but here is a selection of Barbadian Achievers, each of whom has reason to be proud of the respect their personal accomplishments have brought to the land of their birth in politics, sport and culture.

The Merrymen

Red Plastic Bag

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Allison Hinds

Chelsea Tuach

Obadele Thompson

O

badele Thompson’s most notable achievement is the bronze medal that he won in the Sydney Olympics in 2000. He also made four finals in three successive Olympics, a feat that only five other athletes have managed to accomplish. He was fourth twice (in the 200 metres), third once (100 metres), and seventh once (100 metres). In 1995 he won the silver medal in the 100 metres at the World University Games in Japan. In 1998 he won the gold medal in the International Association of Athletic Federations’ (IAAF’s) World Cup Championships in the 100 metres in South Africa in a meet record of 9.87 seconds, and the bronze medal in the same event at the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia. In 1999 he won the silver medal at the IAAF’s Indoor Championships in the 200 metres in Japan.

Between 1993 and 1999 he was six-time Caribbean and Central American Champion in the 100 metres and 200 metres. He also held three world records -- fastest junior in the 100 metres (in 1994); fastest 100 metres under any conditions (1996); and fastest indoor 55 metres (1997).

The last of these records is still intact. He still holds several local and regional records, and won numerous medals for his country since the age of thirteen. He was ranked third in the 100 metres at the end of the IAAF athletic season in 2000, and first in the 200 metres for a brief time in 2001.

Obadele is so far the only Barbadian to have won an individual Olympic medal, which until recently made Barbados the smallest country geographically to have won a track and field medal since the inception of the modern Olympics in 1896. That honour now belongs to Grenada as a

31

result of the exploits of Kirani James at the London Olympics in 2012.

Between 1995 and 1997 Obadele became a three-time successive recipient of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross County Coaches Association Division I All-Academic Award, based on athletic and academic performance. In 1998 he was the recipient of the prestigious “Today’s Top Eight” Award, given by the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) for a combination of a First-Class (3.91 Grade Point Average out of a possible 4.0) undergraduate degree, athletic excellence and leadership. He became the first person from his University and the Caribbean to achieve this award.

He was also granted the prestigious honour of bearing the University banner at his graduation ceremony in 1997. This is the highest honour that the University confers on a student, based on academic achievement, leadership and campus involvement.

Obadele was an eight-time National Sprint Champion between 1993 and 2007. He was also Barbados National Sports Personality in 1994, 1996 and 2000. In 1997 the Barbados Government awarded him the Barbados Service Star for his outstanding contribution to sport. In that year he also received The State of Texas Certificate of Merit for Exemplary Achievement in Academics and Athletics. In 2000 the Barbados Government named him Ambassador and Special Envoy for Youth, following his bronze medal achievement at the Olympics. He has been featured in several electronic and print media, notably New York Times, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, and Track and Field News (magazine).

Dame Billie Miller

B

arbadian women are no strangers to politics, yet it is not very often that a female name graces the pages of history while holding the title of Deputy Prime Minister. Thankfully, Dame Billie Miller has set a precedent that will remain the dream of many young Barbadian girls.

To put her many achievements into perspective, it is necessary to start at the beginning. Miller, a former Queen’s College student, furthered her education outside of the island’s shores at King’s College, Durham University and the Council of Legal Education in England. In 1968, she was admitted to the Bar of England and Wales, and to that of Barbados the following year. This marked a momentous achievement in the history of the island’s women - she was officially the first woman barrister.

After this, from 1969 she was a practicing attorney, but embarked on her political career in 1976, putting her practice on the backburner. She was successfully elected Member of Parliament for the City of Bridgetown in a by-election, and just month later, retained her seat in the General Elections - something she would reclaim seven more times over her career.

She paved the way once again for women in politics by becoming the first female to sit in the Cabinet of Barbados, and from 1976 to 1981, she held the portfolio of Minister of Health and National Insurance. However, in 1994, under the Owen Arthur administration, she was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

But her achievements did not stop with her political career, nor did they stop exclusively on the island. Internationally, Dame Billie Miller assumed the post of coordinator of CARICOM ministerial spokespersons with responsibility for external trade negotiations. In addition, she was appointed as grand officer of the National Order of Benin on 23 June 2000, thanks to her heavy involvement in the negotiations that led to the new Partnership Agreement between Europe and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States.

But the highest recognition of her achievements came as she was bestowed the title of Dame of St. Andrew of the Order of Barbados in 2003, something she earned for her years of contributions to the political landscape.

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Akela Jones

Mighty Gabby

King Dyall

Mac Fingall

Earl Maynard

Jason Holder

Sir Paul Altman

Patrick Husbands

Sir Hillary Beckles

Sir Charles Williams

George Lamming

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Kraigg Brathwaite

Sir Henry Forde

W

hile traveling along the south of the island, along the full stretch of the Tom Adams Highway, at some point you will approach the Henry Forde Roundabout. But just like other names you would have passed along the way, the story behind this name is much more than meets the eye.

Henry Deboulay Forde is a stalwart in Barbados’ political and law circles, and has held the coveted roles of Attorney General and Minister of External Affairs of Barbados throughout his extensive - and very successful career.

Born on March 20 1933, Forde charted a noteworthy path from his humble beginnings as a school boy at the Christ Church Boy’s School, to one of the island’s scholars in 1952. After being awarded this scholarship, he moved to the United Kingdom to study law at Christ’s College in Cambridge and later Middle Temple where he became a Barrister-at-Law. He was called to the English Bar in 1959 and the Barbadian Bar in the same year. As a lawyer, Forde is admitted to practice in England and Wales as a Barrister-at-Law, while he is admitted to practice as an Attorney-at-Law in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and six other Caribbean territories. He has also practiced in the Bahamas and Jamaica.

Some years on from his academic achievements, Forde decided to give back to the younger generations of eager minds, holding positions such as Lecturer of ExtraMural Programmes at the University of the West Indies in the 1960s as well as part-time Lecturer in Caribbean

34

Studies. But it was in 1971 that Forde became a Member of Parliament - a step that would position him to make massive strides in contributing to the island and its people.

Some of his notable and most impactful roles included Chairman of the Constitution Commission, and as a women’s rights advocate, Forde proposed and was successful in establishing a National Commission on the Status of Women. This commendable change saw the creation and implementation of legal equality for women, securing their rights as mothers and wives in property and marital law. Moreover, he was also a member of the Privy Council for over two decades. However, some lament that his career was cut short due to illness, which forced him to relinquish his post as the Opposition Leader of the Barbados Labour Party in 1993 - a post which he had held since 1986.

However, Sir Henry has always been acknowledged as bringing invaluable insight and guidance on political matters, and was fully recognized in 1997 as he was bestowed the accolade of Knight of St. Andrew in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the legal profession, public life and community service.

Today, Sir Henry remains a practicing lawyer, and his career in politics, coupled with his advocacy over the years, he remains a figure of admiration for several present-day political players.

Ralph ‘Bizzy’ Williams

Malcolm Marshall

Mark Lorde

Johnny Tudor

Marvo Manning

Gordon Greenidge

Sir Richard Cheltenham

Edwin Yearwood

Sir Henry Fraser

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Ronald “Suki’ King

Richard Stoute

Vic Fernandes

Sir Richard Haynes

O

n June 23, 2013, Barbados mourned the passing of one of its most prolific humanitarians within the fields of medicine and politics. And although Sir Richard Haynes made an indelible mark on this island, his impact overseas also brought attention to his island home.

From Newbury, St. George, Richard was born on June 10 to Clifford and Muriel Haynes. His early education came at Workman’s Junior School, St. George’s Boys School and later, the institution on Crumpton Street where he would become a scholarship winner. But to pursue his dream of becoming a medical practitioner, he embarked on a journey to the United Kingdom to further his studies at the University of Edinburgh. In 1967, after completing his studies and holding the role of Research Fellow and Registrar during his stint, Sir Richard returned home to Barbados to start what would be a healthy medical career. Over just shy of a decade, he worked his way through the medical field to the post of Head of the Department of Medicine and then to Senior Physician Specialist, and finally Chief of Medical Staff. But his more notable achievement was his role as founder - and subsequently head - of the Intensive Care Unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, which ushered in a more modern approach to medical treatment; and, equipped the establishment to becoming a more proficient operation at saving lives of Barbadians.

Sir Richard was also an advocate for the younger gen-

eration following in his footsteps, and was the catalyst behind forming solid relationships with specialization units to ensure medical graduate training for students of the regions University of the West Indies. What is more, he transformed the island primary infirmary into a teaching hospital.

But Haynes was equal parts medical practitioner and politician. After years of experience in student politics during his university years, he trained his attention to the Barbadian political arena, entering in 1978 as a member of the House. By 1979, he was the opposition voice on finance, and in less than a decade took up the portfolio of Minister of Finance. Just a few short years later, he gained the post of Leader of the Opposition from 1989 to 1991. But as his passion for political success grew, he branched away from his original political doctrine to form his own political party - the National Democratic Party (NDP). However, the party recorded little success, and he retired from politics in 1998.

Nevertheless, with his wife and two sons behind him, he stayed in the public eye with his notable community projects aimed at helping Barbadians through their everyday struggles with the support of his loving wife Carol and two sons Richard and Kashka. In November 2003, Haynes was ultimately recognized by the crown, and was bestowed the honour of Knight of St. Andrew for his contributions to the island’s healthcare and ‘humanity at large’.

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Desmond Haynes

Alan Shepard & Spice and Company

Granville Williams

Gryner

Sir Everton Weekes

Tony Cozier

Sir Wes Hall

Joel Garner

Jackie Opel

Sister (Magrita) Marshall

Andrew Pilgrim

Roger Skeete

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Dame Nita Barrow Dame Nita Barrow is remembered by many Barbadians primarily as the first female Governor-General of this island (1990-1995), and perhaps for the sad fact that she died in office. Internationally, however, she is remembered for much, much more. She was, among other things, a pioneer of the nursing profession and of nursing education in the Caribbean, a global leader in the struggle for the improvement of women’s health and more generally in the struggle for women’s rights, an international champion of a sustainable environment – especially for small island states, an advocate against racism, and, withal, an outstanding diplomat and brilliant negotiator.

The outlines of this remarkable life can be drawn simply by reference to the salient points in her biography and to some of the many posts she held during her life. From her early days as a pupil at the St Michael’s School, she went on to train as a nurse, first at the Barbados General Hospital, then at the General Hospital in Port of Spain Trinidad, and on to the School of Nursing at the University of Toronto and the Royal College of Nursing at Edinburgh University. Rising to the rank of Matron at the University Hospital in Jamaica, and then of Principal Nursing Officer in Jamaica, she also found time along the way to be the founder and first President of the Jamaica Nurses Association.

An early association with the YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association) going back to her days in Jamaica led eventually to the position of President of the World YWCA between 1975 and 1983. Her enduring interest in health led to the post of Associate Director of the Christian Medical Commission of the WCC, and later to she shared post of President of the WCC (1983-1991). She was, variously, Director of the Global Fund for Women USA, Convenor of

38

Forum ’85 (a conference of 10,000 women held in Nairobi to review progress at the end of the UN Decade of Women), member of the Earth Council, President of the International Council on Adult Education, member of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group that visited apartheid South Africa during the State of Emergency in 1986, Convenor of the UN-sponsored Eminent Persons’ Group on Sustainable Development in Small Island States, and a leading light in many other organizations ‒ regional and international ‒ large and small ‒ too numerous to mention.

Her appointment as Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations from 1986 to 1990, and subsequently her appointment as Governor-General of Barbados from 1990 (until her death in 1995) were appropriate recognition by her homeland of a woman who could justly claim to be ‒ as Woodie Blackman’s biography proudly declares ‒ a citizen of the world.

The value of her life’s work was recognized internationally when her collection of papers, which has been donated to the Main Library of the Cave Hill Campus, was inscribed on the prestigious International Register of UNESCO’s Memory of the World (MoW) Programme. This MoW Register seeks to preserve, for posterity, the documents of those who have made a significant impact on or difference to the world. Dame Nita was of that ilk.

An excerpt of an original article by Alan G. Cobley is Professor of South African and Comparative History at the Cave Hill Campus of The University of the West Indies

Rihanna

B

arbados-born Robyn Fenty is known to the world as iconic, singing sensation Rihanna. Whether gracing a red carpet event at some exotic location or on the cover of a glossy style magazine, Rihanna’s introduction always points to her Barbadian roots and heritage. And, it certainly doesn’t take long for Barbados and images of the island to crop up in her interviews, music videos and public appearances.

Nevertheless, the small-island girl affectionately known as Ri-Ri doesn’t just talk about home, she’s frequently at home. Many lucky Barbadians have been delighted by unexpected sightings of the star across the island, including in Bridgetown, at local nightclubs, hotels and on the west coast beaches. In August of 2011, however, she went one better for adoring fans, as she officially brought her stardom home, wowing Barbadians with one of the most elaborate and exciting stage shows to be pulled off on the island. And it was right here on Barbadian soil that the whirlwind sparking her discovery started . . .

Born on February 20th, 1988, Rihanna charted her journey to stardom at the tender age of seven, when she began singing and immersing herself in several different genres of music.

A proud alumna of Combermere Secondary School, Rihanna had her share of spotlight moments when she was crowned a teen beauty queen and won a talent show at the Waterford establishment. As she drew nearer to her destiny as an international entertainer, Rihanna along with two school friends started a music group. But, before anything could materialize from this partnership,

39

her memories of Combermere, her beauty queen crown and the talent show would be overshadowed by a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity. At the tender age of 16, Rihanna left Barbados in pursuit of her dreams and to take up her musical career . . .

It started when American music producer, Evan Rogers, was introduced to Rihanna while he vacationed in Barbados. She auditioned for Rogers with a rendition of a Destiny’s Child song, and immediately had his attention. Rogers, being so impressed, set up a series of meetings and invited her to do some recordings and write with him and Carl Sturken at their studio in New York. With the help of Sturken, she recorded a four-song demo which included the ballad Last Time and what was to become her first hit Pon de Replay. It took almost a year to complete these recordings since Rihanna was still at school and had to record during her summer and Christmas school breaks.

With her good old Barbadian upbringing still intact and at the front of her mind, Rihanna continues to be heavily involved in promoting her native Barbados. In 2007 she became the official face of tourism for the island, and also holds the honorary title of Ambassador for Culture and Youth.

Barbados An Adopted Home

Being a proud Barbadian is more than just being born here. Several persons over the years have adopted the island as their home, and have contributed heavily to its development across several disciplines. And although in some cases this may be more apparent - be it a slight tinge of an accent, or a legal document confirming this - many prolific people from across the world have adopted and nurtured the island as their home.

Auntie Olga Dame Olga Lopes-Seale migrated to Barbados with her husband Dick from her homeland of Guyana, to become one of the island’s most beloved, and visible, charity advocates to date. She passed away in February of 2011 at the age of 92.

Gwyneth Squires Gwyneth Squires has forged a legacy in the island’s cultural industry as a bandleader, something which seems natural given the fact that she has Trinidadian blood coursing through her veins.

Betty West One may think they can peg where veteran bandleader Betty West may be from, but her 20-plus years living in England may be a bit misleading - she was actually born in Guadeloupe to a Barbadian mother!

Assad Haloute Just like others on this list, the mind behind the island’s most popular fast food restaurant Chefette, hails from Trinidad. However, his family’s origins go far east to Syria.

Leonard ‘Lennie’ St. Hill This civil engineer was a native of St. Lucia, and, without a doubt made an indelible mark on Barbados’ infrastructure as the head of the island’s Town and Country Planning Department. Sadly, he passed away this year at the age of 86.

Eudine Barriteau Aptly migrating to Barbados in 1966, Eudine Barriteau holds the title of principal of the University of the West Indies Cave Hill campus, and is an education giant boasting over four decades in her field.

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Doing Credit to Our Nation

ERDISTON COLLEGE’S

CONTRIBUTION TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN BARBADOS IN THE POST- INDEPENDENCE PERIOD

“Doing Credit to our Nation” In our Pledge of Allegiance we, Barbadians, dedicate ourselves, among other things, “to do credit to our nation”. This article will provide a few highlights as to how Erdiston Teachers’ College, through its functioning, particularly in the post-independence period, has endeavoured to be faithful to this aspect of our Pledge.

One of the most direct Maureen E Lucas PhD ways in which Erdiston College Principal, Erdiston College has successfully done credit to our 1994-2000 nation’s development has been through its contribution to the strengthening of our human capital base. This strengthening has been primarily in the context of Initial Teacher Education (leading to the award of the Two-Year Inservice Certificate in Education), Continuing Professional Teacher Education and General Education for members of the public.

Our first decade of functioning as an independent nation, witnessed a marked increase in enrolment in Initial Teacher Education at Erdiston College. This increase in enrolment represented one of the deliberate strategies by the then government to strengthen the human capital base of the newly independent Barbados by providing improved educational provisions to Barbadians. One of the strategies for achieving this was by significantly increasing the corps of qualified teachers in the educational system. Enrolment at the College increased from the mid-sixties and this pattern continued until the mid- ighties when approximately 93% of the nation’s teaching force had received initial training. Erdiston therefore between 1966 and 1984, buttressed Government’s development efforts to strengthen the human capital base by ensuring that there was an increase in the number of qualified teachers in schools across the nation and that these teachers had access to a high standard of initial teacher education.

Erdiston’s contribution to the strengthening of the human capital base of Barbados is also clearly demonstrated in the area of Continuing Professional Development for teachers as well as in the delivery of General Interest courses for members of the public. Both these areas of operation had their genesis in the Division of Continuing Education which was established in 1987. At inception two full-time Continuing Education courses were offered for teachers who possessed Initial Teacher Training qualifications – Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Physical Education (PE). Special Needs Education (SNE ) and Information Technology (IT) were later added.

One of the main objectives of these programmes was to equip trained teachers with specialized skills in a specific area in order to prepare them to function as change agents in that area in their schools.

These programmes were highly successful and up to the present, still redound to the benefit, not only of the educational system, but the entire nation. ECE graduates returned to their schools to perform significant change agent roles in Nursery departments. Parent Teacher Associations across Barbados benefitted tremendously from their knowledge, skills and enthusiasm. Indeed the enthusiasm of these graduates prompted them to establish an ECE Association which was very active not only in attending International Conferences; the Association organized its own conferences and seminars aimed at the sharing of research and the dissemination of new knowledge and skills throughout the educational system.

When the field was given a significant thrust by the Ministry of Education in the 1990s, many of the persons selected to lead and work in the new nursery schools had received continuing professional training in ECE at Erdiston College during the late 1980s and 1990s. These persons functioned at high professional levels and it is incontestable that they have been instrumental in ensuring that Barbados can boast of solid Early Childhood Education provisions.

Likewise, the PE Continuing Education programme as well as the IT programme have impacted considerably on the educational system up to the present time. Barbados can

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currently boast that it has robust PE programmes across all schools. Many of the coaches and PE instructors in schools received training through Erdiston College.

In 1997, the then government of Barbados embarked on a bold new initiative of curriculum reform – the Education Sector Enhancement Project.(ESEP). Erdiston College fully supported this initiative through the training of teachers and principals at all levels of the system. The teaching force had to be equipped with basic IT skills as well as with technology integration skills. What is noteworthy, is that many of the teachers who had participated in the year - long Continuing Professional Education programme in IT, during the early nineties, were able to transfer their skills and served extensively as tutors and as resource persons to the Project. Several of those persons were also well equipped to serve as school coordinators and technology leaders during the life of the project and even up to the current time.

The Division of Continuing Education was not only mandated to provide continuing professional education to teachers; the other aspect of its mandate related to the provision of General Interest courses for members of the public.

Thousands of persons from all walks of life have pursued General Interest courses at Erdiston College in areas such as Basic IT Skills Introduction to Spreadsheets Introduction to Psychology Guidance and Counselling Supervisory Management Tie Dye & Batik Introduction to Early Childhood Education Many of the participants who pursued General Interest courses used the qualifications and skills obtained to start entrepreneurial activities e.g.

IT, Tie Dye & Batik; others were able to pursue new career paths e.g. church counselling; some

sought to better position themselves for promotion in their organisations e.g. participants in Supervisory Management and IT V Eudine Barriteau PhD courses .

GCM Professor of Gender and

The Early Public Policy and Pro Vice Childhood Education Chancellor and Principal programme for members of the public has, up to the present time, had a marked impact on the quality of management of Private Day Care Centres and on their efforts to employ Developmentally Appropriate Practices. In similar vein, the IT training courses delivered for members of the public during the nineties contributed H.E. The Honourable greatly to helping the workforce of Barbados Mr Robert Morris CHB, become Computer Literate at the start of the GCM Ambassador Information Age. What is also noteworthy is that the courses listed above were niche market courses and attracted high enrolment over successive years between 1988 and 1997 - to the extent that the income generated served as a cost saving measure during two administrations.

The College was so successful in marketing Honourable Ronald Jones these courses that the Board of Management used J.P., M.P. income derived to fully fund College projects such as the establishment of a Teachers Resource Centre, retrofitting of computer laboratories as well as some Physical Plant upgrades - at no cost to the respective administrations.

For almost all of the five decades since Independence, Erdiston College has been instrumental in broadening University access for a large number of its graduates who possessed Reverand Susan Ellis B.A., the Two-Year Inservice Certificate, or, more Dip Ed., M.Ed., M.A. recently, the Associate Degree in Education.

Thousands of teachers across Barbados who held these qualifications were able to use them for matriculation purposes or for advanced standing to pursue first degree studies at the Cave Hill campus of the University of the West Indies or further afield.

The College therefore has done credit to our Reginald R. Farley nation by helping to provide university access to thousands of teachers in an independent Barbados. This access to university education, has, in turn, helped to improve the quality of our human resource base. At the same time, this increased access would have contributed directly

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and indirectly to a wide range of improvements across the educational system and would have been vital to the rapid strides which the nation has made during the last fifty years.

Access via the Two-Year Inservice programme or the Associate Degree to university level studies provided another spin off. Benefits accrued to the Cave Hill campus in that Erdiston graduates have always represented a part of the market pool on which the Campus has depended.

Apart from the contribution which Erdiston College has made in relation to the abovementioned areas, the College’s impact is also discernible in the high levels of self-efficacy demonstrated by its graduates. Successful completion of the Two - Year Inservice Certificate, the Associate Degree in Education and the Diploma in Education (Primary and Secondary), always had a highly positive impact on the psyche and attitudes of young Erdistonians. Successful completion of these programmes led thousands of young men and women to see themselves in new light - as achievers, as persons with untapped potential. Their self-efficacy and selfesteem were therefore considerably enhanced. It is obvious that such buoyancy would have impacted not only their families, but the students whom they taught, and the schools in which they worked.

The success and self- confidence derived from the acquisition of the Erdiston skills and experiences prompted many to realize that new horizons were there to be explored and they did so. As a result, we can find throughout Barbados today persons across a wide spectrum of professions who caught glimpses of “a new self ” as a result of success at Erdiston College. Such professions include Law, Government, Social Work, Higher Education Administration, University and other types of Tertiary Level teaching, Trade Unionism and Religion. Some of the persons featured below represent a small fraction of those Erdiston College graduates who transitioned from teaching to other professions and serve with

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credit and distinction.

Throughout the five decades of the post-Independence period Erdiston has consistently placed Outreach Services to schools and other educational institutions high on its agenda. As a result, it organized, in 1998, the first Annual Conference in Education. That Conference is now organized by the Higher Education Development Unit on a biennial basis, but Erdiston continues to play a major role in its execution. The College has also spearheaded Literacy Enhancement training for teachers of primary and secondary schools. Such training has positively impacted the delivery of literacy instruction in Barbados. In addition, the College is very active in ensuring that local teachers remain on the cutting edge in their fields through the organization of seminars and workshops of varied duration.

Special mention must be made of the Technical Teachers InService Programme in Adult Education, specifically designed by Erdiston to assist the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP) and the Barbados Vocational Training Board (BVTB) in ensuring that their instructors are capable of providing high quality instruction, related to the needs of their students.

The preceding paragraphs present a few highlights which illustrate some of the ways in which Erdiston College has endeavoured to serve Barbados with credit. However, these highlights would be incomplete without acknowledging the vast contributions which the College’s principals, Boards of Management, students, tutors, administrative and support staffs have made, over the last fifty years, to ensure that Erdiston “did credit to our nation”. In this regard, particular mention must be made of the thousands of teachers who are graduates of Erdiston College. We acknowledge and celebrate the immeasurable contribution which they have steadfastly made to nurturing and illuminating the minds our nation’s children.

“I see it as producing the Caribbean ideal person, creating students with selfesteem who are academically inclined and highly certified.”

A conversation with

Dr. David Browne Principal of Queens College

D

r. David Brown is passionate about both education and the history of Queens College.

He explains that while Queens College was established in 1883, it was an all-girls school and that all principals in those days were female expatriates. Queens College was established to serve the girls who were more academically inclined.

Queens College catered to all the major professions and sports, and they excelled at track and field and netball.

Freida Nichols was a female Olympian and a Queens College student. Daphne Hackett was regarded as a pioneer in Drama and stage productions and Queens College boasted a Drama Club and a Debating Society.

After Independence Queen College underwent many transformations. The school was relocated and in 1981 it became a co-ed school and had a student count of almost a thousand students with an equal mix of boys and girls.

Dr. David Brown became the first Male Principal of Queens College, a position he still holds. The focus of the school also changed, with strengthened academic courses of study.

Queens College began to offer business courses and intends to continue to diversify the curriculum in an effort to meet the CXC syllabus and the professional demands.

Their mission and vision is a well-rounded student more capable of competing in a working world and that now has focused on values and morals and humility.

The schools need to step up and guide students outside of academics, and must replace and fill the role to train a generation to function in more demanding fields of study.

Schools must now become involved in the Nation Building Process.

A country grows by investing in youth and education

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and ensure they grow from strength to strength, and students must play that leadership role in Nation Building.

Brown’s vision is to have a minimum of 20% of Queens College students going on to University and becoming professionals of the highest order.

Science is now the new initiative of study and is the focus of the universities of today.

In Brown’s words, “we must prepare kids in critical thinking and problem serving. Critical thinking is more than academics and classroom studies. Teachers and students must constantly exchange views and ideas. Teachers must be more involved and creative. I believe in the school system we must start these training early not only when they become adults.

“We attract students from all social backgrounds, but while they are usually considered the creme of the youth coming out of the eleven plus exams, we still have our work cut out since establishing and reinforcing concepts is crucial to academic excellence and advancement.”

While Dr. Browne reflected on the direction of his institution, a broader dialogue ensued, and a few burning social questions were posed for his feedback.

Is it true co-ed has been responsible for the decline of academic standards especially amongst the boys?

“No, there is no empirical evidence to support that. We are finding more females in the learning institution and the males are not dominating anymore.”

Has the career teacher disappeared?

“In 1966 when Queens College was an all-girls school the teacher was a rounded career school teacher, but we currently struggle to get males as teachers. We have fine teachers but we are not seeing the pastoral care from some teachers.

Our economies have changed and have offered better employment opportunities. At our career fairs, they don’t show the inclination to become policeman or teachers, they are more professionally inclined.”

What has happened to fine arts, literary arts, music, and drama?

“They are offered but in the schools it is not getting its due attention. There is a shift to the sciences and mathematics.”

Has lack of discipline and tardiness been a problem for you as an administrator?

“No. I believe in behavioral change as kids knows the rules.

We expect them to do the right thing. Many of our students are not reading they are competing with computer games and cell phones and so studies are falling back.

There is not that appetite for reading. Social media has the attention of the kids, with texting and games competing for study time.”

Now you have seen the challenges and changes and have determined the future of QC how do you see it serving Barbados?

“I see it as producing the Caribbean ideal person, creating students with self-esteem who are academically inclined and highly certified. We need strong characters across all the region. I do believe if we produce students like these, and if our schools can produce productive conscientious focused and honorable students, then we will have a society that truly represents the Caribbean ideal person.

“This is not just a school, it is producing students with a sense of purpose and good work ethics. School is more than certification and certificates…our mandate is to produce critical thinkers and problem solvers, and to make students responsible citizens and leaders in our wider community.

You can expect that from us at Queens College.”

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50 years 40 Challenges

B

arbadians here and abroad are celebrating 50 years of independence and achievements which we should rightly be proud of. While we celebrate this important milestone in our history, and reflect on the achievements of our people, we should also ponder on whether we are working towards a Barbados that includes ALL persons or only those who can access all that our country offers.

Are we working to achieve full independence for all?

As the Barbados Council for the Disabled joins our brothers and sisters in recognizing this day in our history, we acknowledge the support of our governments throughout the years in addressing issues which affect persons with disabilities. However we have to ask the question “ARE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES REALLY INDEPENDENT?” For too long we have had to accept the numerous barriers created every day by society who at times are totally insensitive to the needs of a person with other challenges in our community; even though they are making every effort to contribute to our society significantly. Regrettably, in spite of all the public awareness campaigns stressing the need for inclusion, some facilities and public buildings newly renovated or presently under construction, seem to forget that persons with disabilities are consumers too.

The Barbados Council for the Disabled celebrates 40 years in existence. This is a formidable age for any organization.

During those years the Council has vigorously advocated and worked with various agencies and international organizations for changes that would include those marginalized from accessing services that others enjoy.

We have been encouraged by the drafting of Legislation in Respect of persons with disabilities currently being prepared by the government ministries. Among the four drafts is the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill which inserts a new section to address Parking for Persons with Disabilities. The Barbados Council for the Disabled has been pushing consistently over the past ten years to have this bill passed, but to date have not been successful in getting it to the final stage.

As the Barbados Council for the Disabled continues to advocate for a barrier free environment and attitudinal changes through our FULLY ACCESSIBLE BARBADOS programme, we recognize that this is only the beginning of our goal towards achieving an inclusive society which will ensure “INDEPENDENCE FOR ALL” May God Bless Barbados.

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Strict Guardians of our Heritage

I

n the midst of gala celebrations of Barbados’ 50th Anniversary of Independence, it is perhaps bad form to highlight an area where Pride and Industry are failing Barbados, but it desperately warrants discussion.

As a regular Nation writer Carl Moore pointed out, “We litter and dump garbage all around, and we seem unable to make the simple, obvious connection that we court disease by increasing the rat and mosquito populations. We’ve adjusted so comfortably to litter. It bothers so few.”

It should be of great national concern that, 50 years after the environmental movements of the 1960’s, Bajans are still flinging chicken boxes from car and bus windows.

There are, to be fair, a number of initiatives intended to deal with the litter habit, including Clean Bim, the Future Cenre Trust’s cleanup events, and many more which also underline the growing public desire to do something about the litter habit. However, despite the many worthy efforts at cleaning up Barbados, clean up on its own can never solve the problem. Why pick up the litter in any area if it will be fouled again in a few days? What have you really accomplished?

What is urgently needed is a way to pick up the litter while simultaneously making a strong impression in the public mind, and the Barbados Guardians may have found a way to do just that.

The GUARDIANS are a recently formed community initiative intended to abolish the Bajan littering habit.

They believe that the Golden Anniversary of Independence represents a Golden Opportunity to change a deeplyingrained habit, by tying the goal to this landmark.

So how do they hope to achieve this Herculean task? By forming ad hoc service groups composed of young people and adult mentors, who convene at a particular “trouble spot”, all wearing their Guardians logo T-shirts, and, depending on the numbers, conduct a brisk litter sweep intended to demonstrate to onlookers that: 1) Litter is not that hard to manage.

2) Barbados looks better without litter as part of the landscape

3) There are fellow Barbadians who are cheerfully willing to do this, and 4) There is no shame in picking up litter…the shame is in dropping it in the first place.

This makes the Guardians’ actions Educational Events instead of simple cleanup, increasing awareness in an effective way. Their inaugural service group exercise was at the Barbados Turf Club’s race day on August 17, which saw 17 volunteers conducting a litter “sweep”. Suffice it to say, given the litter generated by race fans at the Garrison Savannah, the Guardians were unable to obtain the speedy and dramatic effect a larger turnout would provide.

However, they still witnessed an amazing reaction from race fans, with lots of “thank you”s (even from the snow cone vendors), and people smiling and gathering their trash for the volunteers’ bags. A second Litter Sweep of the Garrison Savannah on Sept. 3rd saw a marked improvement in the amount of litter, with perhaps 1/5 of the litter seen on August 17th and race fans organizing their refuse for the Guardians’ bags.

The long-term hope is that members of the Guardians form their own “mini-groups” to tackle smaller trouble spots, creating a similar effect in their own neighbourhoods.

Those Barbadians who have had enough of littering, (and theoretical discussions about it), and would like to do something concrete and highly rewarding are cordially invited to join the Guardians to make a tangible difference in improving the Barbadian landscape.

The Guardians wish to thank BRC West Indies Ltd. and Carter & Co. Ltd. for their sponsorship and support, saluting their true corporate responsibility to the community.

Further information on the Barbados Guardians can be obtained from the Guardians Facebook page www.facebook. com/barbadosguardians or by visiting their web site at www. barbadosguardians.com .

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Founder of Harris Paints: Ralph Johnson

K

nown to be a colourful character, Ralph had won a measure of infamy through his exploits in motorsport, captivating crowds at Rally Club events and the Bushy Park race track before he became widely known for his association with Harris Paints. It was second nature to Ralph to put the full force of his personality behind the business and to put the business into every aspect of life he entered. More than any other figure Ralph became synonymous with the brand, particularly in the years he served as Managing Director, often hailed by passing strangers as ‘Mr Harris’. To this day, Ralph continues to champion the company to success in Barbados, the Caribbean and beyond.

The eldest of six children, Ralph grew up in the Deacons and Westbury Road neighbourhood, a modest suburb of Bridgetown, and spent many hours as a child in the family’s small restaurant operations in Bridgetown learning the nuts and bolts of business at the knee of his Grandfather and Uncle. He left school at 16 and found work to contribute to the household income. Like many young men Ralph would grow to enjoy the night scene which was thriving in the 1960s and so perhaps, it wasn’t surprising that he was drawn in to help manage the family owned night club operation known as Mary’s Moustache in St Lawrence Gap. Eventually the spot was bought out to make way for a hotel and with a flair for hospitality and entertainment he started a new club on the corner of Deacons Road and Black Rock in 1970 known as The Cat’s Whiskers. In addition to the bar business he was hiring international acts and was managing bands which included both The Merrymen for a period and the Sand Pebbles. So, a career change was certainly the farthest thing from his mind.

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It was just a year or two later that Ralph learned of the daring proposal to break into the paint market from Andrew Phillips and Richard Carter and he was suitably enough impressed to consider investing. However, the two felt Ralph could play a larger role and would be well suited to help them raise money and the investment that was needed with his broad range of contacts. Without a doubt the nightclub scene was changing and possibly the prospect of prolonged night-work seemed less attractive to Ralph who was now in his early thirties. The proposal gave him pause for thought. This would be a chance to get in on the ground floor, to build and have a shareholding in the business going forward. It was an enormous gamble he decided to take.

It is said that an entrepreneur tends to bite off a little more than he can chew and then hopes he will quickly learn how to chew it, and this aptly describes the plunge the three founders took in those initial years which Phillips once described in an interview as “traumatic”. Ralph confirms it was a struggle of Titanic proportions. Due to severe under-capitalization, the company was in crisis mode for nearly the entire first four years.

However, he is immensely proud that the share capital of the company was raised completely locally and they were able to establish the only locally owned, managed and directed paint factory.

The challenges were numerous and none was greater than sales. “It was exceedingly tough to convince the Barbadian public that we could produce top quality products to rival what was coming in from outside, in our own backyard” remembers Ralph Johnson. From the beginning the company was founded on service and Harris pioneered many customer service activities that are taken for granted today but were not accepted practices in the industry at that time. “We would exchange paint; we put a lot of pride and effort into our in-store displays replacing any damaged goods without question. We would do whatever was necessary to win customers and keep them, even if it meant making multiple deliveries or after-hours service.”

During his tenure as Managing Director and currently as Chairman of the Board, the company has been dedicated to leading innovation and bringing top technology to the region. Over the years, Harris has accomplished many

pioneering achievements; “’The Little Man’ always had to think big” and distinguished itself through continued investment in research and development. Ralph points out that the company was first to introduce a number of products and services. “We were the first Caribbean paint brand to introduce water-based enamels and varnishes; first to establish and market retail colour-matching technology; first to manufacture and supply a full range of building chemicals and Harris led the way in providing product training seminars in islands throughout the Caribbean, to name a few!”

In addition, Ralph became a vocal exponent on economic and trade matters for the manufacturing sector, serving as President of the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association for two terms from 1990 to 1992. Notwithstanding, Ralph always felt that activities out of the office were equally important. It is outside the office, he feels, that life really happens where you meet people, make contacts and come across ideas. “Sometimes”, he says, “people ask me if we have a warranty and I am comfortable in telling them that people know where to find me.

What more warranty do you need?” He has been arguably just as committed and passionate about his many sporting pursuits over the years, which he has pursued with an energy and enthusiasm second to none (and for which he has become renowned). However, it is not all fun and games.

He has put in a remarkable number of hours on individual sporting associations and through his position on the Barbados Olympic Committee, to further his commitment and tremendous support of youth sport in Barbados. Ralph is cautious to temper the fairy tale when considering the level of success he and the Harris team have been able to accomplish. He speaks slowly as he confesses with a wry slightly sheepish smile: “You know, there were really no ‘Yes!’ moments...it was a long, hard grind”. To make a sporting analogy, it is almost never talent alone that rises above the rest, but it is the athlete of some promise who applies unrelenting hard work, persistence and dedication to his task that wins the day.

From “The Harris Paints Story” by permission of the author

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When We Weather the Storms June too soon.

July, stand by.

August, come it must.

September, remember.

October, all over.

This poem – or rhyme as some consider it – is attributed to mariners who charted their business based on the temperament of the waters of the Caribbean. It is a staple in the minds of several Barbadians, and a reminder that just as the island’s beauty is one of the most endearing gifts bestowed by Mother Nature, her wrath is always just off the island’s shores.

Fortunately, over the post-independence years, the island has not seen any catastrophic natural disasters in the form of hurricanes; however, the island remains within the hurricane belt, and should always be on full alert during the active season.

including our manufacturing facility. Nonetheless, we rebuilt from 2008 from the bottom up and through our unwavering team we built the company to what we know it as today.”

In addition to hurricane protection products Talius also offer sun protection products such as solar screens, retractable awnings, and many more elements that help reclaim and protect all living spaces of your home. The company’s clients range from institutional - government buildings - to commercial and residential.

On that note, Gittens’ parting words serve as a gentle reminder to all Barbadians that when dealing with natural disasters, it is not a matter of ‘if ’ but ‘when’.

“For the future, we need to use more hurricane mitigation products in our construction, make better considerations for design of our homes, as well as practicing consistent maintenance in order to be fully prepared. Barbados has done tremendously well over the past 50 years, and many agree that we punch above our weight. We must make this island the best that it can be; so, let’s be happy about it, but let’s not rest on it.”

One voice that resounds the loudest on the topic of hurricane preparedness is Talius Barbados, whose Deputy General Manager Andrew Gittens has a passion for the trade which helps to create safer environs in the island during these most unpredictable phenomena.

“Back in 1994, an opportunity presented itself for me to go to Miami, Florida, where hurricanes were fresh in their mind coming only two short years after Hurricane Andrew had passed. At the time, hurricane shutters and other security measures were the buzz, and I was attached to a company there where I was trained in manufacturing, installation and design of these implements - then until now, I have been passionately working in the hurricane shelter industry.

“In 2002, I was looking to start my own venture when the opportunity arose for me to partner with Talius, a known brand across North America, which was already supplying the island with its products. After extensive talks and Talius Barbados came to be, and we started our operations in the Belle. However, we moved the business to Grazettes in 2004, but by 2008, we suffered from the fire in the industrial park, where we lost about 80% of the business

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THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES Cave Hill Campus

Congratulates

The Government & People of Barbados

UWI and Barbados: Inextricably Linked “ We are proud of the strong,

collaborative relationship between Cave Hill and successive Barbados governments… we say to the Government and People of Barbados, congratulations on your

Golden Jubilee.”

Professor V. Eudine Barriteau, GCM Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal

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ROYALTY ON BROAD STREET

At 31/32 Broad Street, along the busy roadsides of the capital city’s main vein, fine jewelry, gemstones, iridescent glows and world-class brands beckon from the Royal Shop. Besides its affiliation with some of the world’s biggest names in watches and jewelry, the store represents one of the oldest family owned luxury retailers in Barbados. Thus, beyond the pristine storefront, there is a rich story that its Director, Barbadian-born Hiranand Thani, tells from a first-hand perspective with much pride and nostalgia.

Before Barbados even gained its independence, Thani’s father and uncles migrated to the island from India, a move which would be the catalyst to the inclusion of the Royal Shop on the pages of Barbadian history.

“The family business started back in the late 1940s with my father and his three elder brothers. After a few years, while my father opted to stay in Barbados, his brothers choose to continue to Trinidad and Guyana. My father then established his own business under the name of Thani Bros.”

But it was yet another one of his father’s stores that would introduce a young Hiro – as he is affectionately known – to the world of retail business.

“Tots and Teens was my father’s other venture which was located in Evans Arcade, which also housed S. O. Pilgrim Shoe Store, a Christian book store and a restaurant called Chatterbox. It was beside William Fogarty - which is now Norman Centre. I came into the business straight out of school at the age of 17, but I expressed to my father that I wanted to focus more on tourism versus the existing merchandise and baby clothes offered in the store. So, we had a department that was

selling souvenirs and gift items and such, and in the shop, we also had a few jewelry pieces including a watch brand called Counsul.”

By 1974, a newly married Hiro decided to branch out into his own, and after formally breaking his business away from his family, on December 1, 1976, the doors to his own store opened.

“In 1976, I opened my own store in Medex mall in Nicholas House, selling souvenirs, t-shirts, and a bit more jewelry than my family’s previous stores. But over the years, I kept changing the product offering, and after a while we started to improve more specifically on our jewelry and started to look at getting renowned brands. The first brand we secured was Citizen Watches from the Citizen Watch company, followed by Casio watches directly from the company in Japan,” he added, highlighting that this was the springboard into the world of luxury items and jewelry.

Now dedicated to the path of jewelry and watches, Hiro embarked on several trips to international tradeshows in order to grow his product offering, confirming his success in acquiring three more popular brands in just his first year on the international stage.

“We gradually changed and included more brands when I first went to Switzerland to the international jewelry and watch show in the 1980s, and there we established three more brands - Piaget, Movado and Raymond Weil. By this time, the retail climate in the island and across the world was changing, and we saw brands become more important and shopping become more sophisticated. So, with these three brands we started to change up the store, modernized it and consistently kept

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abreast of what was happening in the global industry. Every 5 years we improved the stores, the displays, changing the layout, bringing in new furniture to meet the international standard of what was expected for a jewelry store. The brands are more demanding now, and expect to have specific layouts and display cases to suit their products.”

However, by the mid-80s, at the peak of Bridgetown’s boom as a retail centre, the store’s location came into question.

“By the mid-80s, we had to make a decision on what we would do based on the high rents we were paying at Nicholas House, which moved from four-digits a month to six-digits over the 8 years we were there. It was simply too burdensome and cut too deeply into the business’ profits. To make matters worse, if we had chosen to move but could not find a place on Broad Street we would have to close down since the brands would only be happy being sold on high-traffic areas such as Broad Street.”

But Hiro’s worries would soon be allayed. As fate would have it, the opportunity arose to purchase a prime Bridgetown property.

“A real estate agent at the time had contacted me with the offer of a location at the corner of Prince William and Broad Street, but the catch was that I would have to purchase two properties.

Although the owner at the time had to separate titles for the property, he wanted to sell both as one. After several discussions with my father, deliberations with my brother and financial considerations, we purchased.”

For several years, Hiro and his brother operated their individual businesses from the corner location. However, another change to the store’s location would come over a decade later, but would be less intrusive than previous such changes. In 2004, The Royal Shop was successful in acquiring the contract as the exclusive agent for the Rolex brand in Barbados, something which prompted new structural changes to the existing store. In the late 1990s, the agents responsible for Rolex across the region experienced a takeover bid, and thus, a shift came about that saw the brand go on an 8-plus year hiatus from the island. In 2004, a phone call changed everything for Hiro and his Royal Shop team – after consistent meetings with the brands executives during his visits to Switzerland, the Rolex deal had come to fruition.

As a result, major renovations were undertaken, which included extending the store to incorporate the space that his brother’s business had just occupied in order to afford the Royal Shop more space to meet the expectations and requirements of the Rolex team – a layout which Barbadians are very familiar with today.

Today, the Royal Shop has three business locations across the island along with its 31/32 Broad Street address. One branch of the store is located within the Bridgetown Cruise Terminal and the other at the Accra Beach Hotel. The establishment is definitely a staple on the Broad Street vista, and its colourful history makes it even more endearing as a Barbadian business through and through.

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50 Years of Fabulous Finishes

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rowel Plastics Barbados Limited was established in June 1966, the year of our Independence by a visionary and diverse group of predominantly international entrepreneurs and engineers. The consortium comprised founder, Jules Hunkler who was a Swiss chemist, Mr. James Whitelaw, Commander Daysh, Mr. Paul Brandt, Mr. Pomaris and Manning Wilkinson and Challenor more recently known as Da Costa Mannings.

From inception, Mr Sylvan Clarke worked as an Assistant Chemical Engineer, climbing the ranks to eventually become owner and Managing Director in 1985. During his tenure from 1966, until his retirement in 2007, Mr. Clarke, spearheaded the company’s expansion to become the pioneering, revolutionary manufacturer we know today.

The persistently high demand for the Trowel Plastic product and the opportunities this presented forced the company’s dramatic reform. The pioneering Barbadian visionary worked unstintingly through his commitment to research and development to continuously improve and extend the company’s product line through the latest technologically advanced, state of the art machinery.

He invested heavily in human resources which resulted in

employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for hundreds over the decades. In particular, skilled artisans involved in the product application process. Mr. Clarke’s early adoption of the “customer is king” mentality was perhaps one of the most instrumental catalysts for the company’s meteoric rise. He had a special “calling” for customer service and could often be seen helping customers with colour selection and other solutions for their decorative undertakings and it was not uncommon for his spontaneous consultations to run well past regular working hours.

The Beginning

During the first decade (1966 – 1976), Trowel Plastics targeted the industry elite, specifically, the architects and building contractors. The post- independence era was a period of rapid development for the nation and the construction industry was correspondingly buoyant. The exciting new textured wall finish was well received by industry stalwarts and property owners alike and was applied to many of the newly erected buildings of the time. These included the Coral Reef Hotel, Windsor Hotel, Ministry of Public Works and the BET building.

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Development

As the market continued to develop (1976 -1986), so did the sales of this beautiful new Barbadian product, driven predominantly by construction within the fast growing residential segment. Trowel Plastics continued to benefit from a growing reputation for personalized service as well as the consistently durable quality of its product selection.

“Natural” Trowel Plastic quickly became known as the best decorative and protective solution for the walls of the rapidly growing number of housing projects to emerge from post -independent Barbados.

Innovation

The third decade (1986 – 1996) was a transformative period for the company. The production plant was overhauled and modernized with many of its operations becoming fully automated to increase efficiency in order to save time and reduce operational costs. These technological advancements facilitated the introduction for the first time of a specialty pallete of twenty-four (24) durable colours to complement the original natural palette. The new colour range was targeted at the many housing sub-divisions arising during a historical period of economic growth in the country.

In addition to the introduction of colours, the company responded to the growing demand for an emulsion and the now renowned, Brushing Solution was developed for the maintenance and upkeep of the flagship Trowel Plastic product. It was a revolutionary product at the time which was formulated for texture but adaptable to almost any surface.

The closure of the decade brought more changes with it along with the conclusion of the company’s association with Manning, Wilkinson and Challenor Ltd, a subsidiary of the legendary Barbados Shipping and Trading. H. Sylvan Clarke was now the majority shareholder and the full management of the operation was now solely in the hands of Trowel Plastic Barbados Ltd employees.

Barbados and Beyond…

As this fourth decade (1996-2006) unfolded, the potential to export this Barbadian treasure was recognized. For the first time, export orders of Trowel Plastic reached as far north as South Florida to adorn a forty unit town house project with the company’s signature blend of texture familiarly known as 1.5mm. This export initiative was made possible as a result of capital improvements made through the installation of As market activity continued and with Mr H. Waldo Clarke (Sylvan’s son) now at the helm, the company not only kept pace, but strategically positioned itself for the future. They applied and received ISO certification, purchased

another dispenser, acquired a cutting edge colourizer, increased the plant size, resurfaced and upgraded the Bagatelle administrative offices and embarked upon structured and ongoing training for staff locally and internationally. Upon reflection, these were the “Glory Days” when construction activity was flourishing and sales were free flowing.

The performance of Brushing Solution during this period has been a critical success factor in the company’s ability to capitalise on the relatively robust maintenance segment of the market locally.

The fifth decade (2006 – 2016) quickly saw the company facing unprecedented challenges with the onset of the global recession. The effects were jolting to the organization as the construction industry, which had previously been growing consistently since 1966 came close to a grinding halt by the close of 2008 forcing the company to become even more strategic in its operations. They continued to explore regional export opportunities resulting in the development of a number of regional partnerships, which continue to this day and are contributing substantially to the company’s financial performance.

As the market recessed to become more competitive and as external forces seemed set to threaten the island’s economic stability for the long haul, the company also expanded its local distribution capacity and network through a decision to reach consumers in their own space via retail distribution.

This resulted in a wider range of Trowel Plastic products being conveniently accessible all across the island at several hardware and general stores.

Back at home at Bagatelle, continuous improvements were made to the operations and the product and new levels of investment were directed into research and development to ensure that the product was poised to meet the demands of the future. The environment and the impact of climate change have been an area of focus for future product innovation.

The future….

As competition intensifies and external market forces continue to hover, the company will increasingly direct its focus on export development in the region and internationally as well. The commitment to providing the best quality products without compromise will continue with ongoing investment in the latest equipment and technologies. Product innovation is the strategic focus of the organisation for the future, when combined with the anticipated improvements in efficiency and capacity, the next fifty years look decidedly bright for this proud, 100% Barbadian company.

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Tourism: Towards Another 50 Dr. Kerry Hall

CEO Barbados Tourism Product Authority

After 50 years of tremendous tourism achievements, there is a new blueprint for the burgeoning industry.

Dr. Kerry Hall, the lead officer at the island’s authority on tourism, confirms that visitors to the island of Barbados are looking for a more personalized experience with Barbadian, albeit a movement that started decades ago.

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isonThe profile of the modern day traveler has changed, and they are now looking for personalized experiences that immerses them in our culture, cuisine, folklore, heritage and daily lives as Barbadians. They are excited to interact with the locals, try local foods and participate in local events. This is officially the new paradigm shift in tourism initiatives, and more and more Barbadians are opening their doors and collective neighbourhoods to visitors, enabling a cultural exchange that is enriching and enjoyable to all parties involved.

Thanks to social media, the world is now a global village with copious amount of information at traveler’s fingertips - including video, reviews and other feedback on non-traditional tourism destinations. As a result, we are seeing that although the basics of tourism remains intact, the competition for the visitor market has intensified greatly. Today many places that were not recognized tourist destinations are entering the marketplace, including destinations such as Afghanistan, North- Korea, Guatemala and Rwanda. These places were once synonymous with seedy activities, drugs, war and terrorism, but have reformed their countries by putting down their arms and building massive hotels and tourism infrastructure to rival veteran destinations: yes, they are now recognized globally as new and emerging players in a very aggressive market.

What is more, these destinations are now throwing open their doors to tourism and are offering very competitive and inexpensive tours and all-inclusive hotel packages. Governments in these countries are now experiencing the true benefits of the business, and have recognize that tourism is now a major source of revenue and employment.

Therefore, we must understand and embrace what is happening globally, acknowledging that the goal post once called tourism has moved. Customer demands and expectations have changed the face of tourism, and we have to do the kind of research to understand the new customer in order to create a relevant tourism industry and product.

We have to know what to sell and what to buy. The buzz word in the industry now is authenticity, and customers are seeking authentic experiences. So, we have focus groups and research personnel that are conducting

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market research asking relevant questions. Most recently, research findings showed that the visitors were thrilled with our chattel houses, seeming architectural wonders that several visitors had never seen before and longed to experience a lunch or dinner within their walls.

In addition to research, we must ensure constant contact with the tourists, in order to find out what enticed them to make the trip to Barbados. A good example of this is seen if you take a look at Oistins, which they consider a place that brings the ultimate local experience as a living testimony of the cultural and culinary experiences they seek and the legendary friendliness of locals. In addition to this, the idea of going to Baxters Road at 3.00 a.m. to get a piece of the highly seasoned fried fish is also a unique Bajan experience that ranks up there.

Therefore, the island is now at a juncture where focus must be placed on the several unique selling points. Barbados is more than sun, sand and sea within the context of the Western Hemisphere alone, we are resilient, having the oldest collection of17th century English cannons; being the home to two of only three Jacobean-style mansions and the oldest theologian college, Codrington College, as well as the oldest Jewish Synagogue.

Barbados is second to none with our legendary cricket sportsmen and the famous Gold Cup horse racing event - things which we take for granted but are valuable assets of our culture. One area that we have on our radar is the historic Speightstown, where we host the Speightstown Sizzlin’, a cultural experience that we have spearheaded in a similar vein to the Oistins Fish Fry model.

Therefore, we understand our role is to stimulate massive growth within the tourism and economic sectors and must bring a new breed of tourism visionaries into our marketplace. We must promote our local products and get them to be integral to tourism. We need to consistently encourage visitors to buy locally produced goods, thereby allowing us to have a bigger piece of the visitor economy. Tourism is a business bringing benefit to a nation and the economy, therefore we must ensure that the visitor leaves with a piece of the rock, keeping that dollar in Barbados to stimulate the economy.

We have a clear vision and are passionate, inspired and motivated in promoting local culture, crafts, arts and our local products, while ensuring a greater visitor experience.

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SONIC BOOM! In the 1970s, the global commercial aviation industry was taken by storm as the Concorde aircrafts appeared on the scene. Can you imagine an aircraft that broke the sound barrier across time zones to, in theory, arrive at its destination before it left its point of origin? Well, just over a decade ago, this was one reality of the commercial aviation industry, as the Concorde dominated the skies with its design, speed and overall luxurious experience. It was a supersonic jet that serviced only four destinations in the whole world… including Barbados!

From 1987 to 2003, the Concorde serviced the island each Saturday in August and over the winter months, entering the island’s skies and its people’s views to much awe and fascination.

The island was lucky, it is said, since it was chosen as a final destination of the grand airline due to its airport’s infrastructure as well as its geographical location as the most eastern island in the

Caribbean chain. Nevertheless, demand for the flight and destination was exponential, and for many who had the privilege to travel on the legendary Concorde, the consensus remains that such a standard has yet to be reclaimed or outdone in the commercial airline industry.

Imagine flying across the Atlantic in under four hours in the luxury of titanium and aluminum seats covered with the same leather used by Rolls Royce and Bentley in their own luxury vehicles. Or, picture dining on the most decadent treats including foie gras and caviar on the finest china and linen and complementary wine from the highest wine cellar in the world while thousands of feet in the air.

However, in 2003, the aviation giant would be forced to retire. Amidst rising maintenance costs, they continued to record a steady fall off in passenger numbers, which was primarily attributed to one of the aircrafts crashing in 2000, as well as the US tragedy of 9/11.

Therefore, Barbados is proud to house one of these admirable aircrafts since 2007. The G-BOAE Alpha Echo, which is now housed at the aviation museum in Christ Church, was the 12th of the 20 crafts to be built, and made more than 7,000 transatlantic flights to the island.

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THE SANCTITY OF BARBADOS In a world where opinions are always pitted against each other, Barbados remains the home of a melting pot of religious practices that coexist in perfect harmony. As if the island is blessed by each of the deities revered by its entire population, the island is home to over 100 religious groups and denominations that each has a following within the almost 300,000 population.

Despite a dominance of Christianity throughout the population, the island is also home to Islamic, Hindu, Jewish, Rastafarian, Baha’i and other communities. However, the most visible denominations based on their visual presence on the island’s landscape are Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

The Anglican Churches

Across Barbados, there are several churches that represent different denominations within every district and neighbourhood. From Methodist to Pentecostal, Roman Catholic to Seventh-Day Adventist, the island does not lack for religious spaces. But although Christianity accounts for 95% of the island’s population, within that percentile, Anglicanism dominates tremendously. This is compounded by the fact that the island also features an Anglican theological college, Codrington College, which is located in St. John and dates back to the 1700s. Moreover, the Anglican presence can be found in each parish of the island in the form of parish churches.

The Mosques

With an estimated 2000-plus practicing Muslims in Barbados, it is not surprising that one of the most noticeable religious sites along the way to Bridgetown is the Jumma mosque. In total, there are three mosques on the island, but the community extend beyond these places of worship, as Muslim schools, Islamic academies and other Islamic organizations can be found across the island.

The Synagogue

The story of the Jews in Barbados is probably the most prolific story of all religious groups on the island today.

This group was first recorded on the island as early as 1654, and has had a constant presence on the island until today. One would argue that even more importantly than their religion, this community introduced the sugar cane crop to the island, something which crafted the economic strength of the island for centuries. The synagogue in Bridgetown, the Nidhe Israel, was first built in 1654 and

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NIDHE ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE AND MUSEUM

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he newly-restored Nidhe Israel Synagogue at Magazine Lane in Bridgetown represents an important piece of Barbados’ past, and offers a look at a fascinating subculture of which many are not aware.

The synagogue was built in 1654 by 300 Jewish settlers from Recife, Brazil, who were facing persecution by the Dutch and Portugese prior to settling in Barbados in the 1660s. Destroyed by a hurricane in 1831, the building was rebuilt but fell into disrepair until it was sold in 1929.

Today, thanks to a dedicated restoration effort led

by Sir Paul Altman, the building has been restored to its former glory. It is now owned by the Barbados National Trust, but returned to use as a synagogue by the Barbadian Jewish community. It is also one of the oldest synagogues in the western hemisphere and designated as a UNESCO protected property within the World Heritage Site of historic Bridgetown and the Garrison area.

The restoration effort, begun in 1983, was a labour of love, as workers had to strip away 200 year’s worth of modifications to take the building down to its coral stone shell, reinforcing with steel girders before restoring the original design as accurately as possible.

Restoration was done by Emil Edwards, his crew, and volunteers. The synagogue features a dark wood ark, grand European chandeliers, a stained-glass window etched with the Star of David, and black and white marble floors.

Dr. Karl Watson and the Barbados Museum staff explored the site when renovations first began, and found thousands of interesting artifacts in the longabandoned cemetery, which unfortunately had become a common place to toss trash, with a large amount of metal, glass, pottery, and in recent years, plastic.

In late 2008, an archeologist discovered a fully intact Mikveh, or ceremonial bath, on the site, a discovery recognized as of international significance.

A Genizah was a vessel or container used for old prayer books and other items from the synagogue, was also found. The Genizah found on the grounds of the Barbados Synagogue during restoration was damaged by water, so the contents were transferred to a new container and reburied.

An adjacent building houses the Nidhe Israel Museum, which opened in 2008. The museum inner structure was actually constructed in Canada and shipped to Barbados by Group DES out of Montreal, who created the museum components individually, and who didn’t see the final product until they were in Barbados and asked to see the museum fully assembled for the first time.

Barbados is one of the few countries in the world that have commemorated the early Jewish community via a stamp issue, one of many fascinating bits of knowledge available from this treasure trove of Barbadian history.

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Celebrating 50 years of Independence

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s we celebrate the milestone of our 50th Anniversary of Independence, the BWU Co-operative Credit Union Limited takes a moment to reflect on the sweet memory of our own journey. Having grown from humble beginnings in 1983, where we operated from one small desk manned by just one employee at the Barbados Workers’ Union, to boasting of 24,000 + members and over 85 million in assets. Comprising of BWU Officers and members, the BWU Co-operative Credit Union was founded by a small group headed by Comrade Evelyn Greaves-then Principal of the BWU Labour College, elected as its first President along with Comrade Robert Morris, then Personal Assistant to the General Secretary, as its first Secretary. Its growth was supported over the past three decades by an energetic and committed leadership, who recognized the important role that cooperatives play in the development of the lives of all workers.

Our Members enjoy a unique and enviable customer service. They are delighted with our dynamic service culture and are happy to share in our core values that exemplify we care. We continue to grow and touch on the lives of our members whilst consistently improving our efforts to meet their needs. Our new Oistins location provides an option to better serve our members in the South and the relocation of our Town Square branch office to the Northern Business Centre in Speightstown has increased the quality of service for our members in the North of the Island. Our Head Office too shall undergo renovations in the near future to bring further comfort to the members transacting business there.

We salute all Barbadians everywhere and are proud to be able to share with you on this the golden milestone of our 50th Anniversary of Independence. Happy Independence!

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TIRELESSLY IN THE FIGHT…

THE NATIONAL HIV/AIDS COMMISSION CONTRIBUTION TO NATIONHOOD

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n the same year that Barbados celebrates its 50th Anniversary of Independence the National HIV/AIDS Commission marks its Fifteenth Anniversary as a national organisation dedicated to the fight against HIV and AIDS. Of the fifty years of Barbados’ independent nationhood, over thirty have included the presence of the HIV and AIDS as a development issue that must be persistently addressed. While there is still no cure successive governments have developed and resourced a robust National AIDS Programme for the protection of the public health.

On 21 May 2001, this new agency that was established in the Prime Minister’s Office marked the rebirth of the National AIDS Programme. This newly formed entity was charged with the coordination of an expanded multi-sectoral response to HIV. It was born into a hostile environment, one where HIV and those affected and infected with the disease were viewed with suspicion, fear, anger and condemnation. As a result, this lack of understanding and compassion about the epidemic was one of the major challenges that faced the fledgling organisation. With a cadre of committed officers, however, and insightful leadership at all levels, the Commission sought first to build strategic partnerships, educate Barbadians about HIV and develop programmes to demystify the epidemic and build social acceptance for persons living with HIV. Success arrived through the gradual assignment of full-time HIV Coordinators to key line ministries, the first being the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport and would later include the Ministries responsible for Social Care, Education, Labour, Housing and Transport. Today, there are HIV Coordinators and focal points across public, private and civil society sectors.

Government has further demonstrated its commitment by the allocation of funds for dedicated HIV programming.

The Commission in collaboration with its partners, in particular the Ministry of Health, has at successive five-year intervals developed participatory national strategic plans

to guide the implementation and structure of the National AIDS Programme. It is through these collaborative efforts, led by the Commission, that the Barbados National AIDS Programme is considered to be a best practice in the Region.

Yet, the part is not greater than the whole. The Commission and its broad cross-section of strategic partners will continue to work together, putting aside differences, celebrating achievements, promoting acceptance and embracing change, to eliminate the epidemic.

During the past 15 years, tremendous strides have been made in the prevention, care and management of HIV and AIDS. For example, the knowledge levels in Barbados about the epidemic remain extremely high and that the Government continues to make resources available to sustain this robust response. A number of factors within the social, health and economic environments however have over time necessitated the restructuring and alignment of programmes and services to meet ever changing needs of the population.

The fear and confusion of the first years have generated stigma and discrimination now linked to HIV. Overcoming this barrier of HIV-related Stigma and Discrimination is essential to effectively reaching the most vulnerable in our society.

Yet, how do we change behaviours and attitudes?

Fortunately, there is a strong foundation on which to build.

Barbados has a long and distinguished record of commitment to human rights that is built on democratic principles, equality and respect for human dignity. The National HIV/ AIDS Commission strives to ensure universal access to accurate up-to-date information to support individuals in making wholesome lifestyle choices and by addressing the social determinants that influence behaviours. That is why the agency is now so aptly placed within the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development. Although there is available evidence to show that these programmes do work, to achieve success we also

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need the data on which to base effective programming with adequate systems to regularly monitor and evaluate whatever we do.

The Barbados National Strategic Plan for HIV 20142018: Investing for Results has been positioned through a commitment to reform the current systems, while rationalising programmes to improve effectiveness and efficiency. The NSP, which is currently undergoing a MidTerm Review, has identified the key populations within the National AIDS Programme on which we must now focus: Men, Men who have Sex with Men and Sex Workers- those groups are disproportionately affected by the virus. These very hard-to-reach populations, mainly due to stigma and discrimination. Special programmes continue to be developed to effectively reach these groups and promote the uptake of available HIV services. Simultaneously, these populations and civil society are encouraged to work simultaneously to play a meaningful role in the design, development and implementation of HIV policies and programmes.

The utilisation of both multi-sectoral and community systems strengthening approaches, as well as other critical enablers, will support the implementation of this plan at governmental, national and community levels. To this end, the results-based methodology of the NSP recognises the continuing need to focus on key populations, strategic priority areas, the creation of enabling environments and critical enablers to ensure and sustain universal access to HIV-related services, while reducing stigma and discrimination.

The Commission is also continuing its work with the youth and general public, especially through anti-stigma and discrimination strategies and interventions. This means moving beyond merely informing and raising awareness about HIV to promoting behaviour change and providing the tools for people of all ages to protect themselves. No one agency can do this work alone and the Ministry of Health continues to be a key strategic partner.

As the Organisation moves confidently into its future, sincere appreciation is expressed to all the partners who contributed to its growth and development. The support, commitment and hard work by all those in government, business and non-governmental sectors have been critical to the furtherance of the Organisation and of the dynamic National AIDS Programme that exists in Barbados today.

The fight is not over but aggressive strategies are being pursued towards the global objective of ending AIDS by 2030.

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ocated on the south coast of the island of Barbados, within the Garrison Historic Area and a stone’s throw away from a lovely white sand beach, is Courtyard Bridgetown.

Whether travelling for business or pleasure, our hotel is the ideal place to put a little play in your stay. Beautiful and spacious guestrooms and suites feature contemporary décor, comfortable beds, modern amenities and complimentary wifi so that you can stay connected.

Centro, our Bistro style restaurant is opened daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A daily breakfast buffet showcases a variety of local dishes, designed to excite the pallet and get you off to a great start. Or perhaps, you would prefer a fresh yogurt parfait or a breakfast pastry and a coffee from our grab

n’ go selection. An all-day menu, available from 10:00am to 10:30pm features everything from all- American favorites like Centro’s famous Pineapple BBQ Burger, to a full steak dinner and the Market located in the lobby, is available all day for light snacks and beverages. Within close proximity of the hotel, is also a variety of restaurants, bars and nightlife.

After a busy day in the Boardroom, or a fun day out, take in the sounds of crashing waves as you stroll along the nearby Richie Haynes Boardwalk, relax by the pool deck and soak up the last rays of the Bajan sun, or work out in the well-equipped 24hr fitness center and maintain your daily routine.

If you are traveling with a group, our event space is ideal for small and medium sized meetings and celebrations. Book a stay to remember at our hotel in Barbados today.

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CAMERON BURKE & ERSKINE SIMMONS Reflect on Barbados Olympic Association history

“Our organization was established in 1955, as part of the West Indies Federation along with Jamaica. One of our regional successes was James Wedderburn, who won Bronze in the 1960 Olympics. Our offices have grown from a small office provided by Louis Lynch to the dedicated facility with proper offices and staff we have today.

We help future Olympic athletes with physical development, preparation, training courses for administration, coach training, judges training, and much more. The National Federation is the umbrella body which includes all sporting activities handled by the International Olympic Committee.

The father of our local Olympic effort is Austin Sealy, a Track & Field athlete who became President of the Amateur Athletic Association of Barbados (AAAB) and pioneered Track & Field competitions in 1972. This was subsequently widened to include other sports such as swimming, boxing, cycling, and chess; competing in the Carifta Championships before Mr. Sealy assumed the dual roles as President of the Olympic Committee and the Barbados Athletic Association.

In fact, Sealy is often regarded as the “father of regional athletics”, instigating the Texaco Games and Independence Games, grooming Barbados athletes in Cycling and Track and Field, and setting the stage for prominent athletes like Pauline Jones, Ato Bolden, Obadele Thompson, and many more.

Today, the award for the Nation’s top athlete is called the Austin Sealy Trophy.

In 1968, Barbados sent its first team to the Olympics, an era which included Barbadians such as Patsy Callender, Freida Nichols, Andrea Blackett, and Bruce Bayley.

The local Olympic effort received a major boost in the early 1990s when we were approached by Ralph “Bruggadung” Johnson, Clyde Turney, Dr. Oscar Jordan, and Richard Lynch, who wished to establish a National Lottery which would assist greatly in funding the Olympic effort,

operating as Olympio Lotteries and is largely responsible for the BOA’s splendid headquarters in Barbabos. In addition to being a prominent businessman in Barbados, Ralph Johnson also excelled in squash, golf, sailing, boxing, and motor racing.

In 1984, Barbados sent an outstanding sprinting team to the Olympics, comprising Elvis Forde, David Peltier, Richard Louis, and Clyde Edwards and finishing 7th in the 4 x 4 relay.

This year also found Austin Sealy stepping down as BOA head, being replaced by Secretary Steve Stoute.

The Barbados Olympic Association is widely seen as the best-run small IOC facility in the Caribbean, and many of the world’s IOC manuals have incorporated Barbados’ manuals and ideas in their content. The facility is also home to the World Anti-Doping Agency, which monitors and enforces the strict prohibition against performance-enhancing drugs in Olympic athletics.

Many Barbadians do not fully appreciate talented athletes like Akela Jones, expecting them to medal without realizing that, out of a population of 300,000 people, it is a major achievement to have a Bajan athlete even qualify for the Olympics as they compete with the best in the world. Cost is also a factor, with tri-athletes like Jason Wilson having to raise over US$100,000. just to compete.

Sport in Barbados has moved from amateurism to professionalism, but needs more support from the public and more discipline from its athletes. Aspiring Olympians need to not only be inspired by the likes of Usain Bolt, but to understand the hard work Bolt has done to make him the fastest man in the world.

As for the future, Government can play a stronger role by designating a Ministry of Sports, so that Barbados can be more competitive with larger countries like the USA, Russia, or Germany, which have extensive training facilities for their Olympians.”

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Finding Solutions To Some Of The World’s Challenges: Clean Water; Safe Food; and Healthy Environment.

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Ecolab (Barbados) Limited Lot No. 6, Grantley Adams Industrial Park Christ Church, Barbados Telephone:246.428.1602 Fax:246.428.0176 Subsidiary of Ecolab Inc. USA

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A conversation with

Steven Stoute

President of the Barbados Olympic Association

race, and I made sure we started competing internationally through the Central American and Caribbean Games, the Commonwealth Games, and others.

How would you describe your mandate as head of the BOA? Our job is to facilitate and stimulate young people to get involved in sports, and enhancing the National Federation.

Our biggest challenge is to get our National Federation running smoothly without interfering in their autonomy. For example, the cycling fraternity is currently in court, which dismays me since we have a tribunal specifically to address issues like theirs, and should be a first recourse.

Cycling is the sport that brought me into Olympic sports.

How would you characterize the current state of cycling?

When I was Chairman of the National Sports Council, no one was allowed to walk across the cycling track at the National Stadium in order to protect the track. Today, the stands are condemned and the cycling track is now the stands…the chairs are put on the cycling track-so we no longer have a cycling track in Barbados. It’s heart-wrenching for someone like me, since I tried very hard to make sure we had a good track, and one which the International riders loved because it was a very fast track.

How would you describe the early days of cycling in Barbados?

We had to compete on the grass at Kensington Oval.

What’s more, we had to prepare our own track the day before the races, mowing grass and placing flags for markers.

When Government was contemplating building the National Stadium, veteran cyclist Lyle Carmichael and I met with the Rt. Hon. Errol Barrow. We explained that a new stadium should include a cycling track and that no one rode on grass anymore. That was the genesis of cycling, which over time became one of the most popular sports in Barbados. We had many International meets in the 1970s, with prominent riders from France, Denmark, and other parts of the world.

I used to commentate, and told spectators that, since they couldn’t make it to the Olympics, we would bring the Olympics to them! This was also the beginnings of Sports Tourism in Barbados, as riders came from throughout the Caribbean…. Neville Hunt from Guyana, Leslie King from Trinidad, David Rudder from Jamaica, and many others. The few International competitions we had were mainly regional, like Trinidad, Guyana, and I believe Grenada.

I aspired to get into administration. Road racing, a key element of cycling, was against the law in Barbados, and it took a lot of lobbying with government and the police to get it changed. In 1968 we got permission for our first road

Who were some of the standout performers in Barbados cycling?

Barbados had some outstanding riders, including Hector Edwards, Charlie Pyle, Kingsley Reece, and later, Barry Forde who was ranked 3rd in the World, and who unfortunately lost his medals over the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

One of our top cyclists was Dan Mathews, who did very well at a race in Guyana but also tested positive for drugs and was banned for two years, effectively ending his cycling career.

In a recent talk, I lamented the use of performance enhancing drugs, especially what appears to be statemotivated doping in Russia. More funding is definitely needed to improve International anti-doping efforts.

How many events does Barbados participate in under the BOA? We take about 200 young people to the Central American Games, about 80 to the Commonwealth Games, another 80 to the Pan American Games, and 10 or 15 to the Olympics, so we are quite active internationally.

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successful swimmer, but they were unwilling to work as hard as Phelps to achieve his results.

Our local media sometimes make our athletes think they are better than they are, and also make the general public think our athletes are better than they are as well. When they go to compete, and don’t perform, the public is very upset.

How can Barbados better support the Olympic effort?

During the 2016 Games, I chaired an organization that broadcast a dedicated Caribbean service, so Caribbean people did not have to rely on foreign sports coverage like NBC in order to see their people. We had hoped for better sponsorship for our coverage, but ended up with only one sponsor from Barbados- the majority of our sponsorship came from Jamaica.

We face a number of challenges in Barbados, but when you look at school sports, we have a lot of talent. What we lack is a “Sports Culture” where talent is encouraged by their parents and by the schools. What happens to a number of our young people is that, psychologically, on the big day, they have a problem. If you compare Barbados with Jamaica, the Jamaicans are extremely aggressive, and are prepared to go to great lengths to get where they want to go. Of course, they also have icons like Usain Bolt to look up to.

A Hungarian coach once said that his team was studying Michael Phelps carefully to see what made him such a

How would you describe the progress the BOA has made over the years?

Obadele Thompson’s medal in Sidney definitely stands out, but I’m most proud of the fact that we went from a cubbyhole somewhere in Pine Road to our present world-class facilities, with school children visiting every day to look at our museum.

I don’t think there is a facility like ours anywhere in the Caribbean.

Congratulations to the Government & People of Barbados on our

50th

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Elombe Mottley A Guardian of our Heritage

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hroughout the history of Barbados, several colourful personas have emerged, but none as impassioned about the island’s cultural history as Elton Elombe Mottley. Known more widely as just Elombe Mottley, this purveyor of cultural discovery has taken Barbados and its culture way beyond the island’s borders.

Now considered a visionary, and classed with cultural elites such as George Lamming and Kamau Brathwaite, Mottley is credited with being one of the most prolific senior executives the island’s authority on culture has ever seen. With critics accrediting him with a renewed national appreciation for local music, and calls for his return to the cultural fore of the island, Mottley has gained somewhat of a grandmaster reputation as a cultural champion.

Throughout his professional career, Mottley lent his extensive knowledge and professional prowess to countless industries, establishments and countries throughout the region. One of his most notable stints was that in broadcast media, starting in 1980 with the radio programme Jazz Junction, and culminated with several television gigs up into the early 2000s. But, even as his attention seemed to be trained on the media, for more years than the island has been independent, Mottley continued to cultivate a reverence for the true depth of Barbados’ culture. This sentiment culminated with his appointment as the director of the National Cultural

Foundation, where his direction was supported in the background by his constant pursuit of cultural knowledge.

Mottley has undertaken extensive research on several key components of Barbadian culture tracing them back to a root that has always stirred a great appreciation in Mottley - Africa, the motherland. His cultural anecdotes are filled with links to African influences, and his research has included thorough studies on West African culture and music. Moreover, he has been affiliated with several Africacentric institutes and organizations, including the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica, as well as the African Studies Association of the West Indies in Jamaica where he now resides.

However, his research focused specifically on areas including Barbados Landship, folk music, dance, jazz & blues, Barbados’ cultural history, artefacts, cultural forms, folklore and Calypso - research which has ultimately culminated into one of his biggest contributions to Barbados cultural knowledge thus far: a series of books published to mark his 75th birthday back in 2013.

The volume of fifteen books entitled Chronicles of 20th Century Barbados - a Journey of Discovery, guides its reader to do just that - discover the gems and charms of the island and its culture from the eyes of the cultural giant.

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A reflection with

Barbados Lumber Company

Rawle Branker

I was in Jamaica playing cricket when I ran into Pat Rousseau, who said there was a benefit match at the Savannah, which was the beginning of a great friendship between Pat, myself, and Sir Garry Sobers. Pat told us about a lumber company that had started in Kingston that represented a new way of retailing lumber. He said “don’t you think this could work in Barbados?” After much discussion, I agreed.

I had just come back from England, where we had 9 Barbadians on our team. I told the guys, having seen the homage and respect paid to Sir Garry, that we should open Garry Sobers Sports Shops in every country where cricket is played, including India and Australia. Many of them were reluctant to picture their eventual retirement from cricket to pursue a venture like that.

We met with Philip Greaves, then the Minister of Home Affairs. He helped us get the site adjacent to the National Stadium which we still occupy today. My good friend Amory Philips went to work at Plantations after leaving school, becoming manager of their lumber company and gaining a great deal of experience in the lumber business.

At that time, lumber in Barbados was controlled by a cartel of white Barbadians, who met weekly at the Bridgetown Club to fix prices, so that lumber prices were consistent island wide. Mr. Erie Deane asked us to join the cartel, but we declined since our objective was to bypass the cartel.

However, they also had the only plant for treating lumber on the island. They treated our first shipment without a problem, believing that our intention was solely the building of timber houses. When our lumber yard opened, they responded by taking 8 months to process our next three shipments, which was unacceptable to us.

We decided to open our own osmosis treatment plant at a cost of $100,000., which took some real scraping on our part. When I had to find shareholders, I contacted cricketers like Charlie Griffith and Peter Lashley, so our initial

investment was from the cricketing community.

As our business grew, I had a visit from the then Manager of T. Geddes Grant, who said he would like to see our financial projections. I told him, quite arrogantly, that I was not aware he had become a shareholder, and that I was too busy to discuss it any further. He said: “If you don’t want us to buy your company, we will close you down.”

I eventually was able to inform Amory before he passed away that none of the companies in that lumber cartel were still in existence.

Amory headed our company, and I’m sorry he didn’t live long enough to see some of the recent developments and growth. In the early days of the company, the money was not there for a big sign, and Amory preferred keeping a lower profile so we wouldn’t antagonize our competitors Now I think the time is right for a larger sign, and we are currently installing some larger signs for the company.

Amory Philips

Amory’s loyalty and concern for people manifests itself even today. There are at least 15 people at Barbados Lumber Company who have benefited from his shares after he passed away, being included in his inheritance along with his family. That’s the kind of guy he was.

He never wanted to be an “out front” politician, preferring to be politically active behind the scenes, but also served in the Senate for several years. He supported his party and the politicians who he felt were making the best contribution to the country.

He was also Chairman of the Barbados National Bank for ten years.

He eventually adopted the “sport of kings”, becoming heavily involved in horse racing, starting his own stud farm in St. Lucy, and becoming Chairman of the Barbados Turf Club.

We’re eternally grateful to Amory, and highly proud of him. He was a colossus.

Cricket

Cricket was my passion growing up, and I listened spellbound to distant matches on our Rediffusion box.

There were no trainers, so we had to learn the game the hard way. It taught me discipline, and that one must be self-reliant, regardless of their circumstances.

I played for Empire, along with a host of other prominent cricketers, and always preferred batting to bowling. I scored 100 against the Australian team, which is perhaps when the WI selectors took an interest in me. I also scored two centuries against Guyana in 1964 or 65.

I was an Administrator at club level, and a board member and captain at Empire.

As for achievements, two things stand out for me.

One is being asked to be one of 17 players representing the Caribbean against the best cricketers in the world. To play for the West Indies is an achievement on its own. The second achievement is to have been in business for 60 years in Barbados as a black man without an influential family.

I think navigating the shark-infested waters of Barbadian business is a journey in itself.

Wes Hall

Wes is the only unmatched human being I know. He is kind hearted and magnanimous, and these are qualities apparent both on and off the cricket field.

When we first entered Combermere, on the first day we were each asked to state our name and which primary school we had attended. Wes had been a pupil of Wesley Hall primary, so his response was “Wesley Hall, Wesley Hall”, for which impudence he was sent to the headmaster for 6 lashes of the tamarind rod. Another boy teased him over the incident, slapping him in the back of his head.

Wes responded with a Joe Louis right hook that knocked

the boy out cold, for which Wes received another 6 lashes.

Eventually that same headmaster became good friends with all of us, including Wes. Wes is like a brother to me, an outstanding human being.

Garry Sobers

At our 1966 Test Match at Leeds, we were looking at an impending loss when the mastery of Sir Garry came back. He inspired David Holford as well, who played over and above his normal ability. This was typical of Sir Garry, who had the ability to “tame” the other team while reading batters to a fine degree.

When we began setting up the Legends of Cricket museum, Sir Garry had not a single scrap of memorabilia to contribute, no gear, no shirts, no gloves…he’d given it all away. He was unselfish, and it shows throughout his life.

Unsung Heroes

When I was in school, a white gentleman provided us with the opportunity to develop skills, talent, and confidence…a History and Games Master at Combermere named Ronnie Hughes. He saw that cricket, and playing for the West Indies, was a viable goal, and he guided us along the path to becoming cricketers.

Ronnie lived in the predominately white neighbourhood of Pine Gardens. When vacation time came, he would cram eight of us into his small car four evenings a week, and take us to his home. He hired a Groundsman to convert his front yard to a practice wicket, and gave us free run of his house, to the consternation of his white Canadian wife.

Our lives were changed forever by his warmth and generosity, and he should be remembered always.

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Looking back with

Sir Wes Hall

I

only got to Combermere because I won a scholarship.

What happened was, I decided at the age of 8 that I wanted two things. One, I wanted to go to Combermere because I used to watch the Combermere cricket team, and they had some stalwarts in my opinion as a schoolboy…

Neville Grant, O.H. Wilkinson, Huffy Knight, and Wendell Babb…they were really great players and I wanted to go to that school. Number two, I wanted to play for the West Indies.

So I went to Combermere at age 11, and I played for the West Indies at 19. You have to understand that, having achieved your life ambition at age 19, you still have a lot to learn and to do, especially since you’re not the greatest at these two things.

I never bowled a ball at school…I left Combermere at 18, I played as a batsman, and the same Combermere players we talked about, Lashley, Brancker, Holford…, they were all two dimensional, bowl, bat, and field…I was just a batsman and they told me no, you can’t come in as just a batsman.

Mr. Ronnie Hughes came to me at the end of the season and said: “Look, you’re making a lot of runs, but you can’t live on just runs, you need to have something else… you don’t look like you can bowl, so read this book “Behind the Stump” by Godfrey Evans.” So, I read the book, and I got wickets then for the next 2 seasons.

When I left school, I had never bowled a ball in a match, not even a set match. I was a keeper. I went to Cable & Wireless, and I wanted to play for Spartan. I was born only about a mile from Empire grounds, but I wasn’t interested in playing for Empire simply because Clairmonte Depeiaza was a West Indies wicketkeeper, remember he made 122 against Australia in 1965. This was in 1956 and I knew I wasn’t going to be a wicketkeeper at Empire, so I was going to Wanderers.

Then the manager, an Englishman, came and said to me: “Congrats, I see you’re playing 1st Division cricket… are you aware that we have a team here?” I said yes, but it’s in an intermediate division. He said: “so”? I went to the phone and called Keith Walcott at Spartan and told him I was very sorry, but I was not playing for them, I was playing for Cable and Wireless.

About two months later, I was playing against Wanderers, a very influential club. The Captain, Sonny Gilkes, came up to me and said: “Wes, Robert Mayers (the fast bowler) can’t get off until 3 this evening, so I would like you to take off the pads and bowl.” I said you’ve got to be joking, I’ve

never bowled in my life, but I respected him so I did it.

I bowled and got 7 for 25. At the end of play, Billie Knowles, the agriculturist came to me and said I should go to England in 1957 as a fast bowler, saying: “today I saw a great bowler in the making, and I want you to come to Wanderers on Tuesday evenings to try out.”

I didn’t accept his invitation, but a week later he repeated the offer and I went to try out.They gave me a new ball, and I started to bowl….I don’t know what happened, but I bowled so fast, I heard Dennis Atkinson and the fellas saying: “You see that?” I said thank you very much and I went home, I thought that was it, the end of my aspirations to play for the West Indies.

The next thing I know, I’m bowling for Cable & Wireless in the BCA/BCL match, and got about 5 wickets. Up to

Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Wes Hall & Charile Griffith now, no one had shown me how to bowl, and how to hold the ball, no one has talked to me about my run up, I went there on just natural talent. We lost the toss, and E.W. Swanton batted…I went out there. A nice man, Boggles Williams, a leg spinner, was the captain. He said: “Wes, I want you to bowl from the southern end and which field would you have me set for Cowdrey… I said: “Cowdrey as in Colin? I could not believe I was bowling at Colin Cowdrey.

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My first ball at him hit the outside edge, went to first slip and it was dropped. I went through the innings and didn’t get a wicket. And so I then went on, I did not make the Barbados side for the 1956 Quadrangular Tournament. I remember my schoolmate Lionel Williams made the team ahead of me. It wasn’t my time. I didn’t make the Barbados team but I made the final twelve for the West Indies team. Sir Everton Weekes probably had spoken to someone. That was the first time I travelled in my life. One thing I wanted to do is take my children Kerry, Shawn and Renny everywhere I went. My son John was in Canada but the other three went everywhere on my cricket tours.

I travelled to Trinidad by plane, (BWIA) and in the first trial match I didn’t do well… I made 2 ducks. So, Sir Everton then captained me the next match. I got about 7 wickets in the 2 innings. Before I went out to bat, he said: “It’s hard to get these men out and when you go out, make sure yours hard to get, too.” I made 41 in the first innings, and 77 in the second. I went to England without one first class wicket to my name and no runs… don’t know how that happened. It took me a little while to bowl on a green top to be honest, I was just out of school.

When we got to Lords, it was a pacers wicket and we played two spinners and I didn’t play. Fred Tudor saw I didn’t play and was disappointed. Next game they played 8 fast bowlers… I didn’t get a play and when the team was picked for the 1958-1959 tour, I was nowhere near there so they didn’t pick me. At the same time, Frank Worrell was doing his exams and dropped out. So I believe in God. Barbados then went to Jamaica, the first time we had played them since 1947. So Sir Everton says: “You’re young and strong, but you don’t have the right muscles developed.

You don’t really need big biceps to bowl fast, but what you really need is to have good back muscles.” You need a good run and good feet. I ran 9 miles a day for those 6 months. So, when I went to Jamaica, I was not an 18-year-old rookie, I was a good bowler. . Next tour, I got 30 wickets in 4 matches and by 1962 I had 100 test wickets. God Is so good.

The 1960–61 Test series against Australia is one of the most famous in the history of Test cricket and Hall played a major role in its outcome. The first Test in the series at The Gabba in Brisbane had a thrilling finish. The West Indies set Australia a target of 233 runs to win the match. Hall broke through early, taking the wickets of Bob Simpson and Neil Harvey, followed, after some stubborn resistance, by Norm O’Neill. The West Indies captain Frank Worrell then dismissed Colin McDonald before Hall struck again for his fourth wicket, Les Favell caught by Joe Solomon.

Australia were 57/5 and the West Indies seemed set to win the match. After the sixth Australian wicket fell with Australia having made only 92 runs, the Australian captain Richie Benaud came to the crease to join Alan Davidson. Together the pair took Australia to 226/7 and now Australia looked assured victors with only 7 runs to get. Joe Solomon then turned the game again with a direct hit on the stumps to run out Davidson. His captain Worrell to bowl the last over of the day with Australia needing four runs and West Indies needing three wickets to win the game entrusted Hall. In one of the most exciting finishes in Test match history, Hall had Benaud caught behind, then dropped a catch and two Australian batsmen were run out trying to make the winning run. The match finished in a tie, the first in Test cricket.

I am so privileged. I was a player, a coach, manager and ultimately a selector. I was the Chairman of Selectors,of The West Indies Cricket Board. I became sick and was required to lose 40 pounds. At 245 pounds, being 6’2” I knew I needed to lose some weight. My diet became very important at this time. When I managed the team in 1965, Richie Richardson gave the 19 players and crew 19 dictionaries, so they could understand me when I spoke.

I believe there are three theoretical paradigms in cricket…

Knowledge, Skills and Desire.

I got saved and my mother was my biggest influence. I grew up with my mother, grandmother, and aunt. My father was a top boxer in Barbados and I loved him but we had no real relationship.

I went into Senate from 1971-1976 then from 19811986 at the age of 32. In 1981, Sir Errol Walton Barrow called me and asked me to represent the district of St. Michael West. I was reluctant but Sir Errol said he would teach me everything he knows. I ran a last-minute campaign… in 6 weeks I covered only 60 percent of my constituency, from Eagle Hall to Long Gap, and was beaten by 6 votes. The second and third time around, I won.

My life has had several elements that I am happy with… cricket, religion, politics, and business…working at Cable & Wireless, Banks, Standard Dist.

Out of all that, I am happiest about my children, and seeing how they have grown and progressed. I am a very Happy and Proud Father.

Sir Wes Hall accepting his Lifetime Achievement Award from Minister of Sports, Stephen Lashley.

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Richard ‘Prof ’ Edwards Reflects on Peter Short and other Cricket legends

from 1980 to 1988 and again from 1991 to 2007.

Later he became the President of the BCA and then West Indies Cricket Board. At the BCA he had a great supporting team included Renell Hutchinson Stephen Alleyne, Cammie Smith, Keith Walcott, Seymour Nurse and Charlie Griffith. These were hard working individuals and had Barbados Cricket at heart. Both Players and administrators respected this Board.

What stood out was that he ran it in a harmonious way. No one could get it done like Captain Short. After his resignation the board become fragmented. Peter Short never let arguments take place.

I loved working with Cpt. Short. I would say he always looked for a solution in a firm and non-confrontational manner in which common sense prevailed. His agenda was the growth of cricket in both Barbados and the wider Caribbean.

Captain Short was the longest-serving and arguably the best known chief administrator of local cricket.”

Captain Peter Short

“I first met Cpt. Peter Short at the Wanderers Cricket Club Ground on Dayrells Road. He had just returned from England where he served as a Pilot with RAF before 1956.

I was aware of this larger than life individual with handlebar moustache who seemed to walk around like he owned Wanderers. He was a very imposing character.

In 1959 he captained the club and I was fortunate to play cricket with him. I began to know and recognize that he was a man of substance and I would later establish a personal and working relationship with him He was much respected as the President of the Wanderers Cricket Club and whenever a meeting started everyone was seated. No one dared to come late, since he was a sticker for discipline and punctuality.

He then took a number of cricketers in 1974 to England and through his connections we would play teams that had both current and past English test cricketers. We fielded a powerful team and played some great cricket.

These tours became an annual feature. I travelled with his touring party so I got to know him quite well.

In 1981 our professional relationship became one of friends. He was a great friend. Peter short was a leader and administrator and led by example.

His rise to the Presidency of the Club was a given.

It was a question of time and he served for 20 years with honour and respect. He was dynamic and efficient. He was a people’s person and always could be seen giving a lending and supportive hand.

Captain Short was a powerful figure in the cricket fraternity for more than 50 years and, also serving as president of the West Indies Cricket Board. Short was a pillar at the famous Wanderers Club, having served as president

Sir Frank Worrell

“I was a member of the touring team in 1965 to Guyana vs Australia, when Wes Hall was not well and I was the replacement. Sir Frank was the manager, and he was a legend and a person I held in awe.”

Everton Weekes “Everton was my first captain playing for Barbados. I was playing at Bourda, and Weekes set my fielding position. The batsman played the ball wide of gully and they ran two. Weekes walked up to me at the end of the over and he looked at me and said “Richard, they will not get two to you again.”

I understood very well his message and they never got two again.”

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Tony Cozier

“Everyone loved Tony, we went to school together and we were very close. We went to tours together, we shared a sea side home and were like family, hanging out together and enjoying music and partying.

What hurt him most was when the WI Cricket Board stopped both him and Michael Holding from doing commentary.

He was the best Caribbean commentator, and I miss his knowledge and unique style.”

Stephen Farmer

“Stephen was a brilliant cricketer, but he never had the opportunity to get into the side on a regular basis.

He was always coming in too late in the batting order, and couldn’t break into the top order. He could reverse swing and was a superb all-rounder who came around at the wrong time.”

The past and future of West Indies Cricket

“Some of the best cricket was played in territorial cricket, where crowds would pack out the fields. In Trinidad, you had to work for runs…Guyana was flat but the competitive spirt was alive.

Kanhai vs Sobers, or Rowe vs Boyce? What magic!

There was so much distinguished and competitive cricket…it was playing for national pride, and I have served my country well and with distinction. I put my heart and soul into what I did.

Today, our cricketers are not taking charge or leading from the front in a consistent manner. They are learning their trade playing test cricket, and you have to be on your best in the test arena. Bowlers have to work batsmen out, and Hall could bowl all day.

Our young cricket fast bowlers are weak… they break down too early and should be working harder at enhancing and developing their game.”

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GERTRUDE EASTMOND A REFLECTION

landslide victory. She served as Junior Minister for a few years before resigning. It was a tumultuous time in her life, which she bravely accepted but not once did she despair. Her rift with the ruling Democratic Labor Party would soon come to a halt as healing took place.

Gertz accepted the position of Senator with the Government and continued to be the quintessential politician.

Her political life has been courageous to say the least.

She never wanted to quit being a politician, as it was so embedded in her genes. Towards the end of her political career, she made a commitment to join the UPP whose dreams were dashed aside. However, she continued to attend political meetings and remained on the political sidelines.

Without exaggeration, my mother, the late Gertz, was one of the most fascinating women in Barbados. I often asked myself, ‘where does she get all the energy from’! True, she loved chocolates, but it had to more than this addiction that made her tick! (laugh). Gertz enjoyed cooking and entertaining to the hilt. She entertained family, friends of all walks of life, Prime Ministers, High Commissioners, politicians much to her own pleasure. What was most amazing about her was the fact that although she had a professional cook – primarily for entertainment purposes, my mother would somehow find herself in the kitchen, directing traffic right there – in the kitchen!! I was always amused by this facet of her life. Indeed she was a phenomenal cook and made the best pumpkin soup ever! She took great delight in everyone commenting on her meals – chicken fried rice, chicken dishes, crème de punch, Christmas turkey, just to mention a few.

On a personal note, Gertz loved people and did not discriminate one bit – she loved the young and the old, she loved poor people, and she loved and cherished children. Most of all she idolized her grandchildren who so very dear to her heart and who were always there to console her during challenging periods of her life.

My mother was an ambitious person. During her

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he mere mention of the name Gertrude Eastmond, conjures up several memories of the life of a very enigmatic person. Homemaker, Businesswoman, Politician, Friend, and the list goes on and on. She was an Icon! But for me, my mother was indeed a wonderful human being, a multifaceted person who was blessed with many talents which she always so graciously acknowledged.

First and foremost, my mother was a dutiful mother of six, all of whom she groomed to be successful adults.

She married at a very young age, and since the children came fast and furious, she was forced to share the role of ‘bread winner’ with my father. Indeed, ‘Necessity is the Mother of Invention’. I have recollections of her making clothes at a very young age for the girls. Very early in her marriage, Mum opened a small Variety Store with glass cabinets which formed an extension to the Upper Collymore Rock property. Being the inventive person that she was, she soon turned her attention to expanding this small store to a much bigger one which offered dry goods and a variety of fabrics. Her ambition was bigger than her imagination and her dream of being the founder of a modern Supermarket, soon came became a reality. Gertrude Eastmond was the founder and proprietor of Gertz Supermarket, which opened in 1972. Her family, her friends and loved ones were so very proud of her accomplishment as an eminent black businesswoman in Barbados.

As fate would have it, one of the distinguished guests who attended the Inauguration of the Gertz Supermarket, was the late Errol Walton Barrow. Mr. Barrow soon recognized the dynamic attributes of my mother, and approached her about running for political office. The more she thought about it, the more she decided that she should accept his invitation. Gertrude would run for St. Michael North East, and won by a

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political life, she decided to take up French and Spanish, much to the astonishment of all of us; under the tutelage of Dr. Jean Holder. This was an incredible feat!

She taught us to be independent, to be kind to everyone, to be responsible, to be honest and truthful, to be hardworking and most of all, to be spiritual in our lives. One of her favorite sayings that I repeat over and over again is – ‘God is not going to question us about the good or bad acts committed by others. Each and every one of us is responsible for the kind of life that we live. So we have to strive continuously to leave a legacy that we can be proud of ”. This advice which she offered continues to reverberate in my soul.

Mum possessed a great sense of humor and I enjoyed her captivating laughter, which was overwhelmingly contagious. I deliberately shared jokes with her,

for the sole purpose of hearing her laugh! Those gurgling sounds were like music to one’s ear.

Dearest Mum, you have indeed left your family and Barbadians a legacy of which we can all be proud. Your love and passion for life and your beautiful spirit will continue to live on in our hearts. You had an amazing impact on everyone’s life. I have heard so many wondrous stories from people all over the globe. You loved fiercely and gave of yourself so unwittingly. Let it be known that everyone whom you met loved you back!

We love you forever and ever! You were indeed an Icon!

Lovingly submitted by: Hazel Eastmond on behalf of my siblings – Victor, Mary, Pauline, Elaine and June

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THE NATIONAL STADIUM

F

or several generations of Barbados, the Waterford St. Michael skyline has always been dominated by the terraced seats and light towers of the National Stadium. At present, the venue is undergoing renovations, which will ensure that it remains a part of the island’s architectural fabric for several more years to come.

However, the story behind the National Stadium is an interesting one, and one that many Barbadians have yet to hear.

Six months prior to the island’s independence, the Barbados National Stadium Corporation was established in May 1966 to manage the development of a national stadium on the island.

In 1968, two years after its inception, ground was broken at the Waterford location and construction of the National Stadium began - however, this was not the original site intended for the sporting facility.

Without a twist of fate influenced by Mother Nature, Barbadians would be conditioned to the notion of the National Stadium at Weymouth where it was originally intended to be built.

However, concerns over the state of the foundation at Weymouth prompted developers to abandon the area for fear of long-term structural issues for such a large-scale project. However, the

land at Waterford was procured, and the National Stadium as we know it came to be in 1970.

Over the two years, construction boomed at the site, and all five stands, the cycling track, athletic track and all affiliated surrounding structures were finished. The facility was officially opened by the Prince of Wales on October 23, 1970, and since then, the site has served as a primary training ground for athletes, as well as an entertainment venue for several cultural events and festivals. Most notably many Crop Over festivities including the festival’s culmination with the crossing of the stage on Kadooment Day.

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Another interesting fact about the venue’s structure is its signature terraced stands, which hold more historic and cultural value than meets the eye.

These structures, which stand prominently from most panoramic vantage points across the western part of the island, were originally created and used as temporary stands at the Garrison Savannah for the Independence Celebration on November 30, 1966. Due to rushed - and some would argue short-sighted - planning, the one-use structures were destined to be dismantled and scrapped; however, they found a new home in Waterford where they remain to this day.

Another level of significance was added to the stands in the late 1990s, when the National Sports Council decided to recognize seven Barbadians who’ve contributed greatly to the development of various sports disciplines on the island by naming the stands in their honour. From here on, stands A, B, C, D and the velodrome were named after Clarence Jemmott, O’Donnell Norville, James Wedderburn, Patsy Callender and Randolph Fields respectively, while the entrance gate and the exit gate to the Louis Lynch stands bear the names of Christie Smith and Reginal Haynes respectively.

Bushy Park: The Home of Speed

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arbados has redefined motorsports in the Caribbean. The sport has grown exponentially over the past few decades, and continues to show unbridled momentum until today. To cap off the importance of this sport to the island, its home has far surpassed its humble beginnings and is now recognized on a global level.

Bushy Park raceway was originally built in 1971 by sugar cane plantation workers as a dirt track, proof that the sport was very much in its infancy at the time. Nevertheless, the 1.3km track would see over 40 years of evolution, the creation of several motorsports clubs as well as nail-biting competition that was successful in attracting several regional and international professional drivers to the island’s shores.

The story goes that keen interest of Barbadians in motorsports grew from their participation in such events in Guyana back in the 1950s and 1960s. These events, which are pegged as being first official motorsports events in the region, were held in Guyana on a deserted United States airbase, and Barbadians who participated in motorcycle and car racing in Guyana came back home with a passion for having a venue dedicated to the sport. This spurned the creation of the dirt track in 1971, and by 1972, the track had put its dirt days behind it and was given an asphalt facelift.

In the early days, several racing meets were organized by the Barbados Rally Club (BRC), including the Player’s No. 6 International as well as the very first race the Hilton GT Championships which marked the opening of the dirt track on Independence Day of 1971. In the years to come, the venue attracted over 20 drivers from Europe and the United States who participated in kart, dirt track, circuit and car racing at the venue. However, more than 20 years later, as the BRC trained its focus back to rallying, the Barbados Auto Racing League (BARL) entered the picture to create a season of racing at the track. BARL staged its

first international race meet in August 2003, which has now blossomed into one of the most anticipated meets for motorsports fans each year. Furthermore, in 2010, another club was born in the form of Barbados Association of Dragsters and Drifters (BADD), who also used the track in its original format for their events. However, the winds of change were upon the faithful venue.

Three years later, in August 2013, the start of the biggest evolution of the Bushy Park track would come to pass.

After three years of planning, with involvement form the local government, private investors, the Barbados Motoring Federation and the world governing body of motorsports the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA), the redevelopment of Bushy Park was underway.

At completion, the facility would be transformed into a 2.01km FIA grade 3 course, a 1.2 km CIK grade 1 course, a rallycross track and a one-eight-of-a-mile drag strip. To date, the venue has hosted a bevy of international motorsports events featuring the top names over generations of racing, including the Top Gear Festival in May 2014; the Race of Champions in December 2014 as well as the Global Rallycross in 2014 and 2015 consecutively. The Bushy Park Circuit Inc. was created to manage the venue, and has also encouraged a multi-faceted approach to the facility, encouraging cultural and other events to also be staged on its grounds.

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Kensington Oval: The Cricket Mecca No other sports facility in Barbados is as iconic as Kensington Oval. Greeted by a victoriously posed statue of one of the greatest cricketers the world has ever seen, and bearing names of some of the world’s best cricketers to ever grace the world stage, the world-class venue sits at its hundred-plus year old location in its most recent embodiment.

The site first became synonymous with cricket over 132 years ago in 1882, when the then Pickwick Cricket Club was granted formal use of the 4-acre plot from whence the Oval’s name was taken - Kensington plantation. The first ever international match was held at the venue in 1895, while the first test match was seen in January 1930. During its heyday, the Oval brought a charm of its own, and albeit rustic in hindsight, along with energy and excitement that could not be matched at any other cricket venue in the region. The expanse at Fontabelle featured stands named after the sport’s greatest, including the George Challenor stand, the Hall and Griffith stand, the Kensington stand, the Mitchie Hewitt, the Pickwick, and the Three Ws stands as well as the Peter Short Media Centre. But as the years rolled on, the powers that were decided it was time to take the Oval to the next level.

By 2004, construction and other teams were chosen to redevelop the iconic cricket ground and facility. By June 2005, a chapter was closed as the official demolition of the former oval commenced to make way for a new multi-million dollar facility. Two years on, in 2007, the Caribbean’s cricket Mecca was unveiled as a state-of-theart, 12-plus acre venue readied just in time for the 2007

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Cricket World Cup to be hosted in the region. By 2008, the newly redeveloped Oval was recognized and awarded a ‘Sports or Leisure Structures’ award by the Institution of Structural Engineers, who deemed the addition as valuable to Barbados’ cultural and architectural landscape. The venue would also be the host of the 2010 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Twenty20 Finals in May of that year.

Similarly to other sporting facilities on the island, Kensington Oval has also doubled gracefully as the venue for several other events outside of cricket, including hockey and football games, festivals, and music events. One of the most notable events that have been hosted at its grounds was the 2011 Rihanna Loud Tour concert, where the island’s most popular musical ambassador treated local and visiting fans to an exciting performance under the stars.

THE GYMNASIUM

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arbadian National Hero Sir Garfield Sobers has lent his name to several cricket-related arenas and institutes across the island, but the most diverse sporting establishment to bear his name is the multi-faceted Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex in Wildey.

The complex is considered the islands number one indoor, multi-purpose sports facility, which, at a capacity of approximately 5,000 persons, is perfect for large sporting, cultural and other events. The concept of such a facility came about in the early 1990s, when the then government saw the need to create a facility to bolster the sports tourism efforts of the island. By 1992, the die had been cast with the opening of the facility affectionately known as simply ‘the gymnasium’.

In addition to the main building, two other prominent features on the property are the Aquatic Centre and the Astroturf. The

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Aquatic Centre is the island’s leading facility for competitive swimming, practice and persons learning to swim. It is also the venue for winter training for swim teams out of Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and the United States. On a more general note, the Centre is also used for fitness and therapy by groups including the Special Olympics Association and their associated groups that cater to visually and otherwise impaired persons.

On the other hand, the Astroturf, which was built in 1996 is managed and maintained

by The Barbados Hockey Federation. It has been the scene of several notable sporting events, including four international hockey tournaments in 1996, 2000, 2001 and 2004.

Hockey Federation. It has been the scene of several notable sporting events, including four international hockey tournaments in 1996, 2000, 2001 and 2004.

The Garrison Savannah One of the best locations to witness a glimpse from the island’s colonial and military past is the Garrison Savannah - but any given Saturday, as the gates open, that consideration becomes a distant fact about the place. The Garrison Savannah carries a sense of military relevance within its name, but for generations of Barbadians, the most modern relevance of the place is more closely related to galloping steed.

Rightfully called St. Ann’s Garrison, the area features several buildings that are direct remnants of the original purpose of the area. But amongst the former barracks and beyond the remaining - and defunct - cannons, a historic racetrack dominates the area.

The area is 30-acres in size, and is the home of horseracing on the island.

Since 1845, the sport has been thriving at this venue, something which originated with officers of the British Regime who, in their spare time, pit their horses against each other’s, and later those of rich plantation owners, in races to determine a victor.

Curiously, in 1860, the Savannah also had a taste of the island’s most popular sport, cricket, as the first ever inter-colonial cricket match took place between Barbados and British Guiana (now Guyana.)

In addition to its horseracing legacy, the Savannah has also been the site of several notable events, including the official Independence Day ceremony marking the breaking away of Barbados from colonial rule, as well as the knighting of national hero Sir Garfield Sobers.

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A Bajan Belly Full

One of the most identifiable parts of any culture is its food, and in Barbados, this is no different. Barbadian cuisine is dominated by flavours that are rich, spicy, sweet and decadent.

The Food Vans

On any given day, at any given construction site, the ‘food man’ (or woman) as they’re known, will arrive to ply their trade. The hot dishes that are traditionally Bajan fill the air, and workers converge to have their share. Although this was most popular around construction sites, it has now permeated all corporate and industrial parks. Also, the goods on offer vary drastically, from cutters to ‘cook food’ to livers and gizzards and sweet biscuits. Ground provisions and all.

Now, the landscape is dotted with mobile versions of more established eateries, but all bringing tasty fare to the table!

Street Food Bajan Style

In Barbados, we’ve been perfecting street food for years, so there is no wonder that visitors to the island are left amazed by the sumptuousness around every corner! Nothing compares to the ambiance of Oistins - unless you consider its food! The fishing village has reigned for years as the top spot on Friday nights, offering a friendly atmosphere, entertainment, amazing food and everything needed to forget the stresses of the week! There’s lobster on the grill, as well as dolphin, king fish and more. And for those who are not fans of the sea’s bounty, chicken and pork are also available. Finishing the plate is an assortment of salads, rice and pies, and a cool refreshing drink of choice to wash it all down. The options are simply endless.

Another spot that is popular is Baxters Road, where the heat turns up after dark and the food flows. Located right off the heart of Bridgetown, the bustle of the city transfers here, and food is churned out as quickly as you arrive. But away from the city and across the country is Martin’s Bay and Moontown, where the country air is fresh and the food delicious.

Fine Dining

The title of Culinary Capital of the Caribbean has been loosely attached to Barbados thanks to its diverse food offering. And, to make it even more appealing across even further borders, the island has a vibrant fine dining scene that is the best bar none. The island shows its hospitality through the adoption of other foods, which all benefit from a Barbadian flair, including Italian, Asian, Indian, Brazilian and French cuisines.

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Y L L E B BLACK SHEEP More indigenous than the island’s rum and food is its blackbelly sheep. Seen across the country sides of the island, the blackbelly sheep is unique to the island, and has been exported over 25 countries across North and South America, Asia and Europe.

This animal truly represents the perfect blend of the cultures that fused to create everything Barbadian.

The genesis of the breed has been traced to crosses of African hair sheep and European woolly breeds that were brought to the island in the mid-1600s. This collision of genetics evolved to what we acknowledge today as one of the heartiest breeds of sheep, thanks to its tolerance to heat and its equally commendable performance in cold climates.

But their resilience does not end there. The ewes reproduce year-round, even maintaining pregnancies in the harsh summer conditions. Moreover, they usually bear twins and triplets and can do so upwards of twice yearly given the ideal conditions. The Barbadian breed has also proven to be highly disease resistant.

The title of Culinary Capital of the Caribbean has been loosely attached to Barbados thanks to its diverse food offering. And, to make it even more appealing across even further borders, the island has a vibrant fine dining scene that is the best bar none.

The island shows its hospitality through the adoption of other foods, which all benefit from a Barbadian flair, including Italian, Indian, Brazilian and French cuisines.

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ÉCAF – A BAJAN TRADITION

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stablished in 1955, ÉCAF Products Co Ltd. has been around longer than Barbados has been an independent nation. With Barbados now celebrating its 50th year of independence, ÉCAF is proud to have been a mainstay in Bajan homes for over 60 years, having created a tradition of providing great tasting, quality products to its customers at affordable prices. ÉCAF was a pioneer business in the spice packaging industry in Barbados. The founders, L.G “Darby” Hutchinson and his wife Sylvia, started out by selling coffee, which was roasted, ground and packaged in a good friend’s bakery after hours. Back then, coffee was sold by the spoonful in a piece of twisted brown paper for five cents. Darby had the unenviable task of convincing shop owners that this new style of packaging coffee in heat sealed plastic bags was not only more hygienic, but it also preserved the aroma of the coffee. ÉCAF is an anagram of the French word for coffee, “café”, and this is how the name ÉCAF was actually born.

As the demand grew for other packaged products, so did ÉCAF’s product line. Favorites include Black & White Pepper, Chicken Seasoning, Paprika, Nutmeg, Cinnamon

and Clove just to name a few. ÉCAF also offers a variety of Essences as well as its popular Mauby Syrup, Miracle Seasoning and Hot Pepper Sauce. The extended product line gave rise to the need for the expansion of ÉCAF’s facilities and so ÉCAF moved into a building on Roebuck street, an area that was once the hub for manufacturers and wholesalers in Barbados.

Still operating from its Roebuck street “home”, ÉCAF’s small but efficient operation allows them to service all of the major stores and supermarkets across the island, as well as many of the numerous shops and bakeries. Customers can still buy wholesale items, directly over the counter, packaged in plastic bags and placed in brown paper bags for that feeling of nostalgia. ÉCAF’s success is largely owed to its dedication to providing the best quality products, and the invaluable support of its loyal customers, who continue to pass on this Bajan tradition to future generations. As ÉCAF marches on to its 62nd year of operation, we urge Barbadians to continue to support the Bajan industry and Buy Local! Buy ÉCAF!!!

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Bajan Delicacies

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n this island of 166 square miles there are hundreds of tastes and flavours to be hold. But to some who visit our shores, some of our delicacies may be a bit more adventurous than we consider them to be. From acquired taste to reserved looks and hesitation, some of the tastiest most Bajan meals are sometimes more taboo than we think!

And, obviously on an island such as ours that has been blessed with beautiful - and bountiful waters, our taste buds venture into the realm of the fruits of the sea. One of the most sought after delicacies is affectionately known as sea egg, but rightfully called sea urchin. The meaty, yelloworange part of the organism is prepared in many

ways, but fried and in rice is the preferred way.

Another delicacy from the sea is the flying fish roe and melts which are normally battered and fried to make a treat!

On land, many soups, rice pots and barbecue spits are graced with pigtails, usually firstly boiled to reduce their salted-ness before any other preparation is done. And while on the topic of tails, ox tails are also very common in stews as are lamb necks, while chicken necks are best fried and smothered in ketchup and hot sauce.

But some of us prefer to settle for cow heel soup, souse complete with pig-ears or even picked chicken feet - also known as steppers.

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Chefette – Bajan for Fast Food

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cross the island’s landscape, there are several familiar international fast food brands that linger. However, the landscape is dominated by a distinctly barbadian name – Chefette. The restaurant has been a hit not just with Barbadians, but also visitors alike, and its playparks and treats are a hit with local youngsters. One of the island’s traditions is taking children to the restaurant after they’ve completed one of their most taxing exams – the common entrance exam which takes them to the next level of education.

The chain was founded by businessman Assad Haloute, a Trinidadian by birth who adopted Barbados as his new home over 40 years ago. In 1972, the first Chefette opened in Fontabelle, and although time has dictated structural and other changes to the building, it still stands at that address until today. In addition to the Fontabelle restaurant, Haloute expanded over the decades to other locations across the island including four locations in Bridgetown and one in Rockley, Oistins, Warrens, Holetown, Speightstown, Six Roads, Charles Rowe Bridge and Wildey.

However, in 2008 due to a successful bid by a beachfront

developer, the chain sold and closed its only beachfront location in Holetown, leaving a void in the St. James parish.

However, after this, three more branches were opened: one at Black Rock, the Grantley Adams International Airport and the other Welches, St. Thomas, and the restaurant now operates at 14 locations. However, the chain is on its way to making its return to St. James, as its latest acquisition of land at Lancaster has its fifteenth location on the horizon of completion.

Therefore, it is obvious to conclude that Chefette is the largest fast food chain in Barbados, and its popularity comes for a good reason. At present, Barbadians enjoy a wide array of foods from the chain of restaurants, including hamburgers, chicken, pizza - both pre-sliced and whole - as well as ice creams and other sweet treats. A further convenience is brought through its drive-through service offered at 10 of its 14 locations. In addition to this, the restaurant also has its Barbecue Barn section of the restaurant at the Warrens and Rockley branches, where Barbadians flock mostly on Sundays for lunch. In May 2012, Chefette Restaurants was bestowed the accolade of one of the Top Fast Food chains by

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WE ARE SALT BREAD “My father returned from Antigua to Barbados in 1967 and started a small family bakery on Tudor Street. Like every new businessman, he was prepared to deal with the daily challenges of his new bakery.

One of his goals was to make Nicholls bakery a household name across Barbados. To do this he realized that quality and service would be the pillars upon which he would build his new business.

Starting a new business requires cash flow, so It took us a while to get the business going. Cash flow brought with it challenges and he found repaying his loans and meeting payroll to be difficult. Development was also slow since he did not have the necessary funds to do promotions and advertising.

He then started on building his customer base and used the “word of the mouth” method to improve his sales.

He was proud of his product and quality and very soon Barbadians developed a love affair with the popular Salt Bread. His determination to make the best salt bread was a dream come true.

Unfortunately, in 1990 the business was destroyed by fire, and it was not until Feb 14th 1995 when we restarted a new company with the goodwill from the old business.

We focused on our customer base and quality, and very shortly we made great progress in the market.

Having grown up in a bakery, I was determined to follow in my dad’s footsteps and now committed to managing the new business. My goal was to make Salt Bread the number one product of the Nicholls Bakery. Salt bread was not a new product but we ensured its quality and taste.

It was the product Bajans loved, and if you got it right the sales would surely be there. Salt bread is a local product that is now changing our business and accounts for at least 50% of our sales Whole wheat and multi-grain have changed the dynamics of the baked product. I constantly do a lot of research and development and have concluded that a healthier product is a better product. We have tested these products over a long time and now we have found that we can have a low sodium content.

Today, Nicholls is the largest producer of salt bread in Barbados. We did so by opening our own outlets thus ensuring we got our products across Barbados.

“I will dump a 1000 lbs. of flour if the quality is not good. Our Customers deserve the best quality and I will not compromise on our product quality.”

Today we have to train the raw talent within our systems and set benchmark standards for them to follow. They must display a willingness to learn and have a great attitude to new products.

One of the things we must do is to diversify our products to meet the needs of the younger generation. We are focusing on health products and are now developing a full range of salt bread products. We aim to produce six varieties of salt bread using both whole wheat and multigrain.

The process of baking has now changed. Flour and yeast have changed. The way how bakers can work dough is now through automation. However, the look of Salt Bread may have changed but the flavor is still there.

Today most of our processes are automated so we have to instill the high importance of consistency and quality. As bakers we must manage the process from the mixer to the oven.

Nicholls is a brand product we are proud to make and Barbadians love our product. We grew through quality and hard work. I will dump a 1000 lbs. of flour if the quality is not good. Our Customers deserve the best quality and I will not compromise on our product quality Nicholls bakery is a family tradition and will continue to be so. The Nicholls legacy will live on through our quality and hard work and dedication.

Mr. MacDonald Nicholls is Owner and CEO of Nicholls Bakery.

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THE CUBANA DISASTER

or many Barbadians, the events of October 6, 1976 are forever emblazoned on their memories. It was the day of what is regarded as the first act of terrorism against civilian aviation in the western hemisphere - flight Cubana flight 455 would be hit by two time bombs, killing everyone on-board.

The tragic scene unfolded off the west coast of Barbados, just a mere 11 minutes after the aircraft took off from the then Seawell Airport. As the chaos unfolded at the speed of light, the natural instinct of captain Wilfredo Perez Sr. was to return to the point of origin; but, on further analysis of the direness of the situation, he became somewhat of a hero. On the beaches below, large numbers of sunbathers and vacationers were engaged in idle frolic - unsuspecting targets for the incapacitated, barreling aircraft. His last dutiful action was to bank the craft away from the shores towards the island’s waters, where the fireball touched down on the water’s surface just one mile north of the island - and 8 kilometres away from the airport. Barbados’ coastline was the scene of a horrific tragedy.

The surreal happenings on the routine flight out of Bridgetown claimed the lives of 57 Cubans, 11 Guyanese, 5 North Koreans and its crew, including 24 members of the Cuban Olympic fencing team, scholarship winners and a

convoy of government officials. At the time, it was estimated that the median age of the victim was 30 years. As the plot unfolded, it was announced that the suspected terrorists that downed the flight were Venezuelans Jose Lozano and Freddy Lugo, and their conspirators Orlando Bosch and Posada Carilles, two Cuban-Americans. However, the case and outcome would not be so clear-cut or just.

Years later, as the stunned island of Barbados winched at the thought of the tragic incident, the monument at Payne’s Bay

was erected in memory of the lives lost on the fateful day.

Over the years, it was visited several times by Cuban and Venezuelan officials including Fidel Castro, who continued to rally for a just conclusion to the case.

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