Culture key to country’ success

CULTURE is the way forward. Do not let another fifty years come with no performing arts center.

 

This is the advice from Dr. Anthony ‘Gabby’ Carter during a recent interview with The Barbados Advocate, as he shared his view on Barbados approaching fifty years of independence and the cultural impact of this milestone achievement. 

 

Gabby said, “I am happy and proud to see Barbados reaching fifty years of independence. It is a great accomplishment. I think Barbados has done a lot despite the sceptics who felt Barbados was too small to be independent and should align with Britain. Barbados standing up on their own proved them wrong.”

 

He noted, “The vision of Errol Barrow came true in many ways when he said, he wanted to see a day when Barbados had no more sugar cane.” A vision he noted was taken out of context by many persons because when he spoke to Errol Barrow himself, Barrow said, “We would be so developed we would not be dependent on sugarcane.”

 

Gabby pointed out, “We have reached that time. The sugar cane industry is non-existent and we are no longer reaping large tons of sugar like thirty years ago. A lot of the sugar cane lands have gone into housing, agriculture and other areas.”

 

When asked where do you see Barbados in the next fifty years, Gabby replied, “I believe you have to develop culture. It will play a key role.”

 

He stressed, “Barbados cannot become a first world country without developing its cultural industries. It would be impossible. Emphasis needs to be placed on the cultural industries.” 

He noted, “Hon. Freundel Stuart, David Thompson, Owen Arthur and those who surround them say for every dollar invested in culture they get back six, yet we do not have a performing acts centre in Barbados. That is a monumental mistake. You cannot have anything with that kind of return and just play around with it.” 

 

“Stop making another pre-school, primary school, another highway or government building a priority. Make the performing arts centre the ‘priority.’ Not just a place for calypsonians but a place for dancers, writers, costume designers, choreographers… a place for different genres within the performing arts. A place that is the home of the arts with proper facilities. A place which can be broken down where three to four events can go on at once without interfering with each other and if need be, can be used to house big concerts.”

 

Gabby said, “A place persons can use to hold events such as the Richard Stoute Teen Talent, Junior Calypso Monarch competitions [and] NIFCA, just to name a few.”

 

“Culture saved Cuba and it can save us also.”

 

Gabby pointed out, “It is a national disgrace that we in Barbados have no place for our young musicians to perform. Culture is an important part of a country. It is part of the genetic makeup. For too long now our parents and teachers for the most part have discouraged the children from participating in anything cultural especially the performing arts when the eleven plus exam is near. That too is a mammoth mistake. Why are we not developing culturally what comes natural to us?”

 

He emphasized, “I am keen on Barbados in terms of culture, whether it is agriculture [or] the environment… because they are important for our future.”