By Michron Robinson
There will be an even more vigorous effort to change lives in 2023 – that’s the promise from the Ministry of Culture as the year comes to a close.
Last Friday, many influencers, media professionals and academics in Barbados’ cultural industry turned up for an End-of-Year Mixer at the Barbados Museum at the Garrison, St Michael.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with Responsibility for Culture Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight (left) shared a moment with journalist Stetson Babb (right) and his wife Dr Jasmine Babb, Chairman of the National Cultural Foundation. (Centre).
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with Responsibility for Culture, Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight, said the Ministry will be moving to impact and influence. “We are not intending for 2023 to sit on our laurels in terms of those things we have and even those things that can possibly be termed as successful. We are in a continual process of making sure that our work continues to impact lives, she said.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with Responsibility for Culture Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight (centre) with Martha Gabriela Ortega Peraza, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela’s Chargé d’affaires to Barbados and Pan Africanist Wayne “Onkphra” Wells.
She added that for next year, being transformative and putting resources in place to feed community talent will be in the spotlight. “What we are talking about in a very real way is impacting the communities in Silver Hill, Brittons Hill and Speightstown – the groups of the boys on the block. That is really where you feel culture. So, making sure that what we do from henceforth is grounded in community and lived experience, that we put our resources to bring those talents to bear, is [what] we want to focus on,” she added.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with Responsibility for Culture Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight and Adisa Andwele of the National Cultural Foundation.
In attendance were Cultural Ambassador, The Most Honourable Anthony Mighty Gabby Carter, Ambassador to CARICOM David Comissiong, Member of Parliament Trevor Prescod, and Director of the Museum and Historical Society Alissandra Cummins, amongst other high-ranking officials.
Cultural Ambassador Anthony Gabby Carter chats with Programme Advisor, Officer of Reparations and Economic Enfranchisement, in the Prime Minister’s Office Rodney Grant.
The Minister also called on people to reflect on work done this year to ensure that 2023’s efforts continue to bear fruit. “It is in the context of reflection that we [can] look at everything that we have been doing to make sure that it continues to be responsive,” she said. (MR)
Senator John King greets Special Envoy on Reparations and Economic Enfranchisement Trevor Prescod.
