By Michron Robinson
The contributions of champion jockey Patrick Husbands, musical genius Nicholas Brancker and recording artist Llewllyn “Jiggs” Kirton are immeasurable and memories of them should live on forever.
During the unveiling of wax figures of the immensely talented three at the Wildey Mall, Wildey, St Michael on December 15 by the Barbados-based Caribbean Wax Museum, CARICOM Ambassador David Comissiong hailed the work of the artist duo Francis Ross and Art Edwards.
“It is a monumental effort on the part of these two committed Barbadian artists to produce this quantity and quality of work and to keep the museum afloat and constantly developing over the last six years,” he said.
From left, Nicholas Brancker and champion jockey Patrick Husband welcome the wax figures created by the Caribbean Wax Museum.
Comissiong suggested that the time has come for the government and private sector to take a significantly greater interest in this largely underutilised cultural treasure. “[They should] help it to assume the place of importance that it merits in the cultural and educational life of our nation and in the arsenal of Barbados’ premiere tourism attractions,” he said to loud applause.
“The Caribbean Wax Museum needs to be accommodated in a more spacious air-conditioned facility and to benefit from a more fulsome embrace of our tourism, educational authorities and to be used, marketed and promoted appropriately. I really feel we have a cultural treasure and we are not making full use of it,” he added.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with Responsibility for Culture Senator Dr Shantal Munro-Knight congratulated the team at the Caribbean Wax Museum and underscored the importance of investing in Barbadian culture.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office
with Responsibility for Culture Senator
Dr Shantal Munro-Knight.
“We talk about this economy and the need for employment and businesses, but a part of what drives this society is culture… the things that we value are driven by culture. If we rebuild how we treat this notion of culture, we then create a pathway to greater transformation. That is a path that we at the Ministry of Culture are working towards,” she assured.
The Senator admitted that more needs to be done to support cultural practitioners and gave the promise that her ministry is working towards providing such. “We view cultural practitioners only in the realm of entertainment without understanding that in Gabby’s song of Emmerton there are stories of times past that we should never ever forget. If we don’t value that – more than Gabby singing a nice tune – then there is a rift in terms of our history,” she said.
Art Edwards, artist with the Caribbean Wax Museum.
Brancker, on acknowledging the new wax figure which was unveiled in his likeness, agreed that more should be done for the freedom of expression within the artistic community.
“I don’t have the answer, but the conversation must happen. We must be allowed… to see how we can make that market sustainable to us while encouraging the freedoms that we need to have while expressing ourselves.”
Jockey Patrick Husbands recalled how he came to fame when he left for Canada in 1987 and thanked the team for their amazing work.
Widow of Llewllyn, Maureen Kirton, said that her husband did much for Barbados and the wax art was fitting to keeping the image of the recording artist alive.
“He loved this country. He would always tell everybody I’m from Barbados. He was a humble man and he would’ve been humbled and privileged that this is happening, and I want to thank Peter Clarke for maintaining my husband’s legacy. I think Art has done a miraculous job with my husband,” she said.
Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM David Comissiong.
Noting that the Caribbean Wax Museum is an indigenous Barbadian product, Comissiong said that it has the potential to deliver various Halls of Fame, covering sports, entertainment, the diaspora, CARICOM and historical and educational institutions.
“If we want to get young people on the path that we want them on, a big part of that job is going to be to educate them, to raise their consciousness and to root them in a deep and profound sense of national Bajan identity. One way of doing that is to teach them these stories of iconic Barbadians,” the Ambassador suggested.
The museum currently hosts 45 live-sized wax statues and at least eight busts of outstanding Caribbean personalities. (MR)
