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??Minister of Culture, Stephen Lashley Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova

Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison will be officially inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Property on Wednesday, June 13, during a 45-minute ceremony at the Garrison Savannah, starting at 4:30 p.m.

Minister of Culture, Stephen Lashley, disclosed this today and pointed out that UNESCO’s Director General, Irina Bokova, would present the inscription certificate to Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, thus formalising Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison as a World Heritage Property.

Mr. Lashley told the media during a conference at the West Wing of Parliament that a number of dignitaries from UNESCO would be present, as well as representatives from CARICOM.

He continued: "The programme will be very exciting. It will encompass a range of interesting activities for the general public. Apart from the requisite official speeches, the unveiling of the official plaque and the presentation of the inscription certificate, there will also be a cultural presentation…"

The Minister noted that there would be performances by popular calypsonians, the Royal Barbados Police Force Band, the Zouave Band of the Barbados Defence Force, and the Barbados Landship, among others.

Giving the rationale for their selection, he said those "three institutions are all over 100 years old and are significant representatives of our Barbadian culture. Our young people will be featured very prominently in the programme, for example, and the public will get the opportunity to hear the wonderful voices of the 100-strong St. Leonard’s Boys’ Choir as they render some of the popular folk songs of Barbados," he stated.

He added that students from surrounding schools would also be invited to witness the ceremony, and he has, urged Barbadians, especially those who live within the boundary of the World Heritage Property, to be present.

Mr. Lashley said: "This event is a point of celebration for Barbadians. It is really your event and we want you to stand up and celebrate this momentous occasion and our outstanding property which is now to be shared with the rest of the world."

It is expected that the inscription ceremony will be shown live on CBC TV.

sharon.austingill-moore@barbados.gov.bb

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