Barbadians must ask themselves what they are doing today to advance the ???phenomenal achievement of Independence in 1966???.
Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley, made this assertion during the 2014 Sagicor Life Inc. Lighting Ceremony on Saturday at Heroes Square, Bridgetown.
???Each of us must ask ourselves the vital question???Are we being true craftsmen of our fate and helping to make our country more productive and competitive, or are we surrendering our talents and skills to negative and counterproductive endeavours???? Mr. Lashley queried.
He encouraged citizens to remember the ???perseverance and resolve of Errol Barrow???, especially now that the island faces ???unique economic challenges???, and added that the first Prime Minister???s role as champion of Independence must be seen as inspirational.
Explaining that the first Lighting Ceremony was held on November 1, 1996, he said it was an activity that Barbadians looked forward to as it signalled the start of month-long celebrations for Independence.
He described the events as another opportunity to demonstrate our independence in a tangible way.???These events, along with the traditional ceremonial Independence Day parade, must not only be seen as symbolic celebrations of the attainment of our independence.
They must, in my view, serve to remind us of the responsibility that independence brings. They must remind us of the sacrifice of so many Barbadians, particularly our unsung heroes, to the independence effort and in the building of modern Barbados,??? he said.
shamkoe.pile@barbados.gov.bb