A total of 120 Barbadians, including 60 members of the uniformed services and 60 civilians, will receive a new national honour to mark the diamond anniversary of Independence, it was announced in the Senate on Wednesday.
Leader of Government Business Senator Lisa Cummins introduced the Barbados Diamond Anniversary Honour Bill to commemorate both the Independence jubilee and the fifth anniversary of the Republic, while recognising citizens who have made significant contributions.
The initiative followed previous commemorative honours – the Barbados Centennial Honour in 2000, which recognised 100 Barbadians, and the Barbados Jubilee Honour in 2016 to mark the 50th anniversary of Independence.
“Sixty members of the uniformed forces, including all uniformed forces, Barbados Defence Force, police service, fire service, customs service, immigration department, financial intelligence unit, and so on, anti-terrorism, anti-corruption,” she said.
“Equally to have 60 outstanding Barbadians recognised for their contributions to the country in a number of areas, public administration, education, healthcare, youth development, business and entrepreneurship, agriculture and food security.
“Science, technology and innovation, culture, heritage, and the creative industries, sport, environmental stewardship, national security and emergency services, faith-based and charitable services, labour relations, international relations and diplomacy and service in the Barbados diaspora.”
An extensive communications campaign is to be launched to make Barbadians at home and abroad aware of the new honour and the opportunity to nominate recipients.
Opposition Senator Karina Goodridge welcomed the provision for public nominations, saying it would allow Barbadians to identify people who had demonstrated exemplary conduct and made valuable contributions to the country.
“I wholeheartedly support this bill because to honour a man or a woman in this country is a great example, not only for this generation, but for all the other generations to come,” she said.
Senator Goodridge said people who had worked and contributed to Barbados deserved to be recognised, pointing to late National Hero Sir Garfield Sobers.
“I believe that when we think of persons such as the late Sir Garfield Sobers, who would have toiled and laboured in this land, and who’s such a great example for us to follow, we can use them as an example of persons whose conduct has been so great to Barbados that persons will recognise such individuals internationally.”
She recalled seeing a digital billboard in New York City bearing Sir Garfield’s name as an example of his international stature.
“That means that he is a household name and individuals here who will receive this Barbados Diamond Anniversary Honour will be a household name.”
She added: “Persons who toil and labour contribute to the success of this land, and I am a proud Barbarian, and I know that many Barbarians will be grateful to receive this achievement. So we are grateful for them, and I am grateful for this opportunity to say, sir, I am well pleased this morning.”
(LG)
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