BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Wednesday June 13, 2012 – Bajans are expected to be out in their numbers this afternoon, June 13, when the Inscription Ceremony for “Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison” takes place at the Garrison Savannah in celebration of the area’s official listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Property.
According to Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley: “It is expected that the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, will present the Inscription Certificate to the Prime Minister, thus formalising the Inscription of ‘Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison’ as a World Heritage Property. A number of dignitaries from UNESCO as well as our counterparts in CARICOM will be invited to attend this national function.”
In addition to the unveiling of the official plaques and the presentation of the inscription certificate, the 4:30 pm ceremony will also feature a cultural presentation.
Performances will showcase iconic groups whose roots date back over a century and are representative of Barbadian culture: the Royal Barbados Police Force Band, the Zouave Band and the Barbados Landship.
Also included in the programme are presentations by the Pinelands Creative Workshop and popular entertainers Mighty Gabby and Rupee.
Young people, including the St. Leonard’s Boys’ Choir, will also feature prominently in the presentation, while students from surrounding schools are also expected to be in attendance.
Three plaques, which will highlight the contributions of all races in Barbados to the country’s development, will be strategically placed to show the designation of the World Heritage Property.
“The wording of the plaques would be in accordance with a brief description of the Universal Value of the World Heritage Property. These plaques would be adorning the site, showing the perimeters of the property and there will be maps on the signs around Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison,” the culture minister said.
He stated that the World Heritage Property would help to broaden offerings, not only to visitors looking for more than sun and sea, but to Barbadians who have shown significant interest in the initiative.
“We would like to compliment the level of interest we are seeing among Barbadians. Our schools and indeed those teachers who continue to use the fact that we have moved to an Inscription Ceremony to heighten the interest of our students in relation to our history. There is lots of history in Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison. It tells a story of our past and the story of who we are. This Inscription Ceremony really is meant to crown that and to celebrate a particular point in our history that I think we should be proud of,” Lashley said.
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