Advocate’s staff celebrate with the Honourable Anthony T. Bryan

One day after being awarded the Companion of Honour by the Prime Minister of Barbados, the staff of The Barbados Advocate took time out to celebrate with the Chairman and Owner of the company, the Honourable Anthony T. Bryan.

 

Gathered together, the members of The Barbados Advocate spoke individually to salute their boss and to celebrate with him, his achievement. Many of them spoke about the journey with the company over the years and how the influence of Bryan had helped them to grow not just as journalists, but also as people. The passion with which the Companion of Honour awardee goes about his business and the running of the company has made an indelible impact on the lives of the staff.

 

One of the main themes of the speeches honouring the boss was that he treated his staff as family and that his care for the company and those who worked with him was an exceptional experience. The environment of professionalism in the office and the excellence with which the paper stands for, as expressed by others, was all due to the level of commitment of Bryan. Over the years, his effort to maintain a standard of published media in the island has been outstanding.

This is in keeping with the life that Bryan has lived. His establishment of the first FM and Christian radio station on the island – BBS FM, speaks volumes to the focus of the honoured Barbadian businessman.

 

His son, in attendance at the celebration, spoke about the collection of music that his father had which he heard as a youngster. He also spoke about his father’s vision of sharing that collection of music with the people of Barbados and that vision coming to fruition in the form of BBS.

 

“I always ask God… to give me a sign.”

Bryan stood amongst those who admired and loved him; some as a father and some as a guide and friend. He thanked all of those who spoke kind words and expressed his humble gratitude at receiving the award. He then gave his thoughts about his success in life and the foundation on which he stood in life.

 

“I always ask God, in everything I go to do, to give me a sign that I may know that you are with me. If I don’t get that sign – I do not start.”

 

With God as his guide, Bryan said that he has never been disappointed. He also admitted that he had at times taken steps forward before the sign, but stepped back when he realised no sign had come. Bryan also spoke about his day at Government 

House where he received his achievement. The Governor General of Barbados Sir Elliot Belgrave could not be in attendance, so Prime Minister Freundel Stuart stepped in to award the honoured guests. Due to his absence, surgeon Selma Jackman, businessman Geoffrey Cave and retired Justice of Appeal John Connell could not be knighted at that time, so Bryan was privileged to be the first awardee.

 

In closing, the businessman and publisher spoke about what he wished to be part of his legacy. He expressed the knowledge of knowing that no one lives forever and that he knew his time would come. “Embrace people and be nice to them. When you are unkind to someone – it hurts you more!”

 

This speaks of the character of the Honourable Anthony T. Bryan, who has taken The Barbados Advocate ever-forward over the years he has been in charge. His contribution to the island has been one of which the citizens of Barbados should aspire to follow; not to be recognised for their achievements, but to help build the nation into what it can be. If we could have such patriots who would give of themselves in order for the strengthening of the island, not just internally, but in the eyes of the region as well as the world – the heights, which we as a people could travel, would be limitless. (AS)