#BTColumn – Humbled and truly honoured

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today.

by Alister A Alexander

I am sincerely humbled by being awarded this nation’s Gold Crown of Merit. And on behalf of the Barbados Association of Retailers, Vendors and Entrepreneurs (BARVEN) and the vending community, I would like to extend the warmest appreciation to all who are responsible for this historic gesture. I am aware of the voice Alister A Alexander of change that this honour speaks.

This is definitely a paradigm shift in this island’s tone of governance, and it has certainly struck a tender and sentimental cord in the nation.

This is a self-actualising note, one that the people have never heard this loud before, not from their paramount seat of authority.

By such an award, our Anthem’s phrase, “These fields and hills beyond recall,” are now bravely echoing through our halls
of power down into every street and through every cane-row.

On the 54th Anniversary of our nation’s Independence, surely, this award has come to officially herald the making of an equitable social transformation and just revolution.

And humbled under the weight of our valiant history that salutes our journey and that has raised its own flag, I say to my government and to this beloved nation in which I was born, that this honour is not Alister Alexander’s personal honour.

It is not so received. It is our collective gold crown of merit award. And like the day it was given, it is a fitting tribute to our collective struggle to a continuing emancipating effort to not only economically enfranchise ourselves, but to free ourselves from the enslaved mindset that refused to recognise our own gallantry and to celebrate the admirable heroism
of our freedom-fighting legacy.

By this symbolic image of gold, of the most precious, we are affirming in the name of the Most High, that we are the precious image of God having that equality with all men that is self-evident.

This award is graciously accepted on the behalf of my father, a vendor who was arrested for his ambition; whose arrest and defiance motivated me to form BARVEN. My dad so exemplifies the historic ambition of our hawkers who, from slavery time, refused to be locked out of meaningful economic and commercial life in this country.

It is accepted too, for freedom-fighting educators like our historians Trevor Marshall, Professor

Sir Hilary Beckles, and for such activists as His Excellency, David Comissiong, who exposed the evil of the deposed Nelson and led us to the rediscovery of our most endearing heritage icon, vending.

It is now an inerasable note in history, that in the month Nelson was taken down from our Capital City, Ma Vendor, the mother of our economic entrenchment, the living heritage of historic Bridgetown was publicly elevated to her rightful place and placed on a pedestal there in Heroes Square.

More than one tear is going to fall on this golden emblem. I’m going to daily bow my head in prayer and in deep respect to the martyrs and unsung heroes of the revolts that have brought us this honour.

From the 1675 slave rebellion to Bussa, from Bussa to BARVEN, my tears will be following the trail of blood that has led to this moment. Before those great ancestors, I must lift this award in honour of such love and sacrifice.

This award is equally shared with co-founders of BARVEN, Richard Scantlebury and David ‘Prophet’ Clarke, and the many that behind the scenes played a role in developing and strengthening the organisation.

All I want to be is a vessel in the hands of God. I do not know where His righteous quest for justice will finally take me. But I will not back away from its challenges.

Truly, heavy is the head that wears the crown for the people. Pray for me. This Gold Crown of Merit, whatever privileges it may have, is not what I am about.

I am about sincere service to my God and Nation. Thank you. God bless BARVEN and God bless Barbados.

Alister A Alexander GCMPresident, BAVERN