Youth steer the Barbados Landship toward a new era

The Barbados Landship Association marked its 162nd anniversary with a church service at St Mary’s Church, celebrating not just its storied past but the young people now anchoring its future.

Under the theme Moving Upstream Still, the event spotlighted the growing involvement of youth in preserving and revitalising this uniquely Barbadian tradition.

Wayne Worrrell, coordinator of the Barbados Landship Programme, expressed gratitude to long-standing leaders, including Admiral Vernon Watson and Commander Leon Marshall, acknowledging their dedication to keeping the organisation alive. He emphasised the importance of generational continuity.

”Over the last couple of years, we have been working extremely hard to lift the Landship and to simply have the Landship available to a new generation of youth,” he said. ”And we have worked steadily, and without these individuals, we would have had nothing to hold on to.”

Members of the Barbados Landship Association paraded to Jubilee Gardens.

A strong contingent from the Barbados Youth Advance Corps (BYAC) joined the celebrations, prompting Worrrell to add, “I thank the BYAC Unit, thank you for always coming out, showing up and representing.”

Canon Sonia Hinds, officiating minister and Barbados Landship Association chaplain, echoed the sentiment, praising the youth’s presence.

“These are the young people that we believe through God will carry the Barbados Landship Association over the next 15 years, even more,” she said.

Various groups displayed the manouvers at Jubilee Gardens. (STT)

“This evening, we are happy that instead of staying home and going on your tablets and your cellphones, sleeping, that you are here worshipping and giving God thanks for 162 years of the Barbados Landship.”

Following the service, members and supporters paraded in the nearby Jubilee Gardens, demonstrating their signature manoeuvres.