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| The Pride of Barbados Award??was accepted on behalf of??Reverend Dr. Anthony Bailey; Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Barbados Organisations, last week at the Awards and Recognition Reception closing the Barbados Network Consultation 2nd Diaspora Conference. (C.Pitt/BGIS)?? |
Barbadians from the Diaspora have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to this island and thanked for their continuous commitment to the development of Barbados.
During the Awards and Recognition Reception of the Barbados Network Consultation 2nd Diaspora Conference at the Villages at Coverley last Friday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Maxine McClean, explained that the event was designed to reward individuals and organisations from the diaspora "for the contribution that they have made to the building of international awareness of Barbados and Barbadians overseas".
Three Barbadians who live overseas were awarded the Pride of Barbados Award – an honour given to individuals who were nominated by an association or organisation for outstanding activity in the Diaspora.
They were Reverend Dr. Anthony Bailey; Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Barbados Organisations, Julia Hollingsworth-Brown; and member of the Barbados Nurses’ Association of America Inc., Shirley Holder.
The Minister’s Award for Excellence and Achievement was designed to reward individuals or organisations whose contribution highlighted and benefitted Barbados as well as the Barbadian economy or society over a sustained period of time.
Honorary Consul for Barbados in South Carolina, Rhoda Green, and the Barbados Ball Canada Aid – an organisation which provides scholarships and financial assistance to Barbadian Youth attending universities in Canada- were both presented with this award.
Third generation Barbadian from Panama, Sheila Wilkinson, was awarded a Special Award for her efforts in helping the Barbadian community and Barbadian visitors in Panama.
Barbadians from Cuba, Panama, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and the United States were also acknowledged for participating in the 2nd Diaspora Conference.
"We thank you for the ongoing contribution you make in the forms of remittances, both financial and social, and for the way you represent us from your respective bases," Senator McClean stated.
Labeling the four-day event as "a very successful Barbados Network Consultation 2012", Minister McClean said: "As I reflect on its component [and] activities over the last week, I feel a sense of accomplishment and pride that Barbados and Barbadians have once again proved our dedication, [our] commitment and shown our worth."
Urging Barbadians at home and abroad to remember that "Barbados may be a small nation but it is powerful in the eyes of many across the globe", Minister McClean encouraged nationals to always enforce their country’s motto: Pride and Industry.??