Barbadians challenged to take pride in their history

On the 10th anniversary of the UNESCO designation of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for culture, John King, is challenging Barbadians to take pride in their history as it has shaped many of the social, political, and cultural norms we have today.

Speaking Sunday at Heritage Month celebrations held in the form of a Heritage Service at St Mary’s Anglican Church in Bridgetown – King said the church not only held much significance historically with it being one of oldest consecrated grounds in the city, but the church also contributed significantly to the cultural landscape of the island.

“This church with its rich history has always been part of the social and religious consciousness of the city – from being the first civic centre and meeting place for the Vestry in the early city, to today being a respite for many who seek shelter from the heat and the bustling city streets. Within the stratified slave society it became a designated burial place for free blacks and coloured.

“In recent history, it has contributed to the development of the entertainment sector by being the nursery for the development of some of Barbados’ best known voices – The Might Gabby and the Tenor Coco, both from nearby Emmerton,” he said

King added, “The church’s relevance within Historic Bridgetown must not be underscored. Whereas its architecture is reminiscent of Georgian architecture, this site also tells the story of the journey and achievements of the enslaved and free blacks.”

King said even though COVID 19 caused major disruptions within most sectors on the island, the pandemic did cause organizations, including the team behind this year’s Heritage Month, to invest more in technology-based initiatives, which contributed heavily to one of the most successful Heritage Month series of activities in years.

“COVID curtailed physical activity, [but] it opened the way to transfer content online and to reach a wider audience for greater collaboration amongst the various stakeholders. It has been a packed month, by far the busiest Heritage Month since the initiative was first started,” King revealed.

As one of the few sites in Bridgetown to have capitalized on the UNESCO designation from the moment it was assigned, King said it was his hope that the church membership adds even more activities for next year’s Heritage Month, as Barbados makes its way towards republic status by the end of this year. (SB)