The heads of state and government on Thursday led national tributes to the Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers, with Prime Minister Mia Mottley describing him as one of the Caribbean’s greatest contributions to history.
Earlier in the day, President Jeffrey Bostic signed the condolence book at State House, joining national tributes to the late National Hero.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the weekly Cabinet meeting as she signed the book, she joined in paying tribute to the cricket legend ahead of next Wednesday’s State funeral at Kensington Oval.
Drawing on the words of renowned Trinidadian historian and author C.L.R. James, the prime minister reflected on Sir Garfield’s place and legacy among some of the most influential figures to emerge from the Caribbean region.
Quoting James, she said: “Still we have made history. As evidence of what we can make of ourselves, I need only add some of the names our people from the Caribbean have inscribed on the pages of history.”
Mottley noted that James listed iconic Caribbean figures including Toussaint L’Ouverture, Alexander Hamilton, Marcus Garvey, Aimé Césaire, George Padmore and Frantz Fanon before concluding with Sir Garfield.
She quoted James’ tribute to the cricket giant: “I end this list by a name acknowledged by critics all over the world as an unprecedented, unimaginable practitioner of his particular art. I refer, of course, to Garfield Sobers.”
The prime minister said those words continue to capture Sir Garfield’s extraordinary contribution, not only to cricket but to Barbados and the wider Caribbean, as the nation prepares to bid farewell to one of its most celebrated sons.
Barbadians have been invited to sign condolence books opened at official locations across the island ahead of the state funeral, which will take place on Wednesday at Kensington Oval.
(SB)
The post President, PM sign condolence book for Sir Garfield appeared first on Barbados Today.
