The designation of Barbadian international artist The Right Honourable Robyn Rihanna Fenty as the country’s 11th National Hero has been endorsed by some members of the clergy.
This, despite a social media recording purported to be that of a well-known Roman Catholic priest criticising Government’s move and calling on the church to repudiate the elevation of Rihanna to National Hero status.
In the recording, the respected clergyman was heard denouncing his fellow men of the cloth for remaining silent while the island’s “moral compass” was damaged. Alluding to Rihanna’s dress code, the priest queried the kind of example she was setting. According to him, her elevation speaks to a lack of morals in society.
“This is something that needs to be denounced and I am surprised that the churches in Barbados have said nothing— nothing. Where is the voice of conscience in Barbados? Where is truth in Barbados? Oh my Lord! You see we have become a Republic to become what? Sodom and Gomorrah? To become Babylon? Is that what Republicanism is all about?” the cleric asked.
However, both Reverend Dr. Trevor Daniel, president of Trinity Outreach Ministries and Pastor R. Danforth Francis, president of the East Caribbean Conference of Seventh Day Adventist, believed that if Rihanna met the criteria to qualify to be a National Hero, then the honour is deserving.
Reverend Daniel, who was Rihanna’s district director when as a child she attended the New Testament Church of God in Parris Gap, Westbury Road, maintained that the 33-year-old earned the right to be honoured as she was on Independence Day.
“When I was a child Guy Fawkes, whose plan it was to blow up the English parliament, was honoured every fifth of November. After we became Independent Mr. Barrow discarded that as crap because the man was a criminal and we honoured the man as a hero. Rihanna has done lots for Barbados. So if she has met the requirements then you would have to give it to her. If 15 per cent is the passing mark at CXC and you get 15 per cent what difference does it make if you write the exam with a black lead or fountain pen?,” Daniel said.
On the other hand, while acknowledging Rihanna’s young age, he conceded that due to the mammoth responsibilities that entails such a distinction, it could have been delayed since she has room to grow and make mistakes.
“Her contribution to Barbados cannot go unnoticed. She is wealthy, she has done well for herself- an achievement for someone that came from Westbury Road. . . . Nonetheless, they are names about here that are recognised that haven’t done anything for Barbados so I am not going to kill poor Rihanna. She deserves to be recognised and you cannot say less than that,” Daniel added
Pastor Francis, who made it clear he was not speaking on behalf of the SDA church, appreciated the right of the Government to choose who the society recommended as a National Hero.
He said: “We cannot deny that Ms. Rihanna has done a lot for the country especially in this particular time. She has invested her time and talent for the country of Barbados and if those are the qualifications that make someone a hero, why of course. We’ve come along and seen other individuals who are named as special for their contributions in one way or the other and I assume, I believe this is how she was chosen. In that sense, I believe we should respect her as one of our heroes. Not to say that every hero in the island or every hero that we have that we would agree with everything the person has done or will do.” (KC)
