B’dians urged to sing with pride

 

The Director of Downes & Wilson Funeral Home is therefore spearheading the initiative #246Anthem, encouraging the singing of the Anthem at events and occasions of national significance.

 

“We have decided to promote the national anthem of Barbados. In Barbados, we do not sing the national anthem. At events it is usually played by the Police Band or sung by an individual... Our promotion for the 50th anniversary of Independence is to encourage Barbadians in Barbados and all over the world to sing the National Anthem of Barbados,” he explained.

 

“We want it to actually go viral, we want to hear the Anthem sang all over… Whenever you hear the Anthem sing it, sing it, don’t just stand there,” Wilson stressed. He further indicated that, “It is a matter of education. We have to teach our people this is what we should do; but it’s not done overnight.” 

 

Supporting Wilson’s call is Irving Burgie, who in 1966 wrote the lyrics for the National Anthem of Barbados – his mother’s homeland.

 

On Monday, Burgie who has long been acknowledged as one of the greatest composers of Caribbean music, joined Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, Senator Sir Henry Fraser and others for breakfast at the Hilton Barbados Resort. “I am enjoying being back in Barbados for such an occasion. I am especially proud of it being the 50th anniversary of Independence. It brings back the images that we saw 50 years ago at the Garrison when the Union Jack came down.”

 

“I am all for getting this project going and fulfilled as soon as possible. The main force that a nation has is its Anthem and Flag – that is the unifying feature of every country in world and Barbados is no different,” he pointed out.

 

Burgie, 91 years old, also took the opportunity to reveal that he has been working on a remake of the 1963 off-Broadway production “Ballad for Bimshire”.

 

“I have since done some revisions of the show and I am making a movie of it, which I hope to get out in the next year or so. It is a movie that talks about Barbados coming of age, takes place around the 1930s in Barbados,” he revealed. Senator Fraser has been promoting the singing of the National Anthem for the past three years. He described Wilson’s initiative as “fantastic”.

 

“Whenever I sing the Anthem I am overwhelmed; I am internally motivated and inspired,” he expressed to the media.

 

“I cannot see how any Barbadians can sing the words of the National Anthem, think about those words and not be inspired to become more patriotic and to work harder for the development of our beloved country,” he lamented.

 

“Mr. Burgie is the man whose words have inspired me for years and can inspire Barbados and Barbadians to be better than ever... I think the anthem is just the most beautiful song in the word,” he added. (TL)