Dozens of Barbadians were spellbound by the black and white images of bygone Barbados when the Barbados Government Information Service mounted a photographic exhibition as part of the week of activities to mark its 55th Anniversary.
The pictorial display, mounted on easels, features an assortment of photographs depicting images of official visits by dignitaries such as the Prime Minister of Kenya Kenneth Kanuda; Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia; United States Congresswoman, Shirley Chisholm; United States President, Ronald Reagan; Prime Minister of Jamaica, Norman Manley; and Cuban President, Fidel Castro.
There are also photographs of Historic Bridgetown between the period of the 1930???s and the 1960???s, showcasing the horse-drawn buggy, and the lighters (a vessel used to transport merchandise to bigger ships).
In the section entitled Glimpses of our Past, images can be viewed of the imposing Harbour Police keeping guard. Also featured is the annual Exhibition in Queen???s Park, which brought back several memories of that bustling activity, a favourite pastime for Barbadians.
The strides made by the University of the West Indies over the years have also been well captured. On display are photographs of the Campus at its then Harbour site; the first matriculation ceremony and graduation ceremony; as well as classes held at that location. There are also images of the Campus during its construction phase at its present site at Cave Hill.
Visitors to the exhibition also paused to reflect on the pictorial display of Barbados??? Independence on November 30th, 1966 and the images of then Premier Errol Barrow in various celebratory photographs with several dignitaries.
Permanent Secretary responsible for Defence and Security, Gabrielle Springer, described the exhibition as ???an accurate representation of Barbados??? history???.
???You can really walk through history???s pages by just looking at these photographs and I think that it is something that all school children should be exposed to. Although it is impossible for all the school children to [fit] in here, if you can make it a mobile exhibition, it would be wonderful to take it to both the public and private schools,??? Ms. Springer underlined.
She further stated: ???[The exhibition] is a real history lesson from an architectural and international relations perspective, even the history of film and photography and I think the exhibition is absolutely wonderful. I am sure that you have many more photographs in your collection and I think that on an annual basis you can determine a team and present it. It is excellent work and I congratulate you for it.???
Meanwhile, Senior Telecommunications Officer, Winston Devonish, described the exhibition as ???wonderful work??? that brought back memories of what Barbados was like in the past and the improvements that have been made over the years.
The photographic exhibition continues until Friday, November 15, and is open to the public and to schools.
julie.carrington@barbados.gov.bb