A top honour

Barbados’ newest national hero, The Right Honourable Robyn Rihanna Fenty declared Tuesday that she had received the top honour of her life from her homeland.

“This is a day that I would never ever forget. It is also a day I never saw coming,” she told the audience after she was officially conferred with the Order of National Hero of Barbados by President Dame Sandra Mason during the National Independence Honours ceremony held at Golden Square.

The 33-year-old international pop star and businesswoman is the island’s 11^th hero and joins Sir Garfield Sobers, the only living national hero.

 

She told the ceremony “I have travelled the world and received several awards and recognitions but nothing, nothing compares to being recognized by the soil that you grew in,” she said while personally extending deep gratitude to Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

In making the announcement last night, Mottley declared that it was her government’s judgement that it was appropriate to send a strong signal to the world.

She said: “Just as within one mile of this space from Bridgetown there is a national hero by the name of the Right Excellent Sir Garfield St Aubyn Sobers, born of humble origins, but capable of capturing the imagination of the world by being the greatest of all time in cricket that we too have on the other side of Bridgetown, born less than one mile from here too and from humble origins, catching a ZR from Combermere School.

“But above all else, commanding that imagination of the world through the pursuit of excellence, with her creativity, her discipline and above all else, her extraordinary commitment to the land of her birth, pursuant to clause B of the schedule. And, having satisfied that Ambassador Robyn Rihanna Fenty has given service to Barbados which has been exemplified by visionary and pioneering leadership, extraordinary achievement and the attainment of the highest excellence that is redounded to the honour of Barbados…”

Fenty declaring her love for Barbados urged the nation’s youth to continue efforts to build the country.

“This is the only place I have ever called home, I love Barbados and I love you guys. I pray that the youth continue to push Barbados forward,” she said.