Irving Burgie passes on

The author of the lyrics of Barbados’ national anthem has passed away.

During yesterday’s 53rd Independence Day celebrations at Kensington Oval, Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley announced that the singer and songwriter had passed in his sleep Friday night.

After observing a minute of silence for the passing of this grand character of a man, Mottley called for the people of Barbados to reflect on the kind of Barbadians they wished to be.

“Pause with me and reflect on the words of the gentleman who we just paid tribute, to our national anthem as to what kind of Barbados do we want to live in in the future. Will we write our name on history’s page with expectations great? What kind of fate will we be firm craftsmen of - and I ask you this because the choice is in our hands,” she said.

“And as we reflect today, I ask us to do so with purpose because each and everyone of us in this stadium, within this country has the capacity to alter the nation’s course and destiny. And we ask you what kind of country do you want to live in; what do you want people to say about Barbados 20 years from now and read about Barbados when they Google it 10 years and 20 years from now?”

“We have to ask ourselves these questions because where we want to be will not happen by accident or by serendipity, it happens because we have set to out to build a nation and mold a people and in so doing we remind you that as of the 1st of January 2020 we have invited all of our own to return home for We Gathering 2020.”

Mottley also extended congratulations to those 26 persons who were honoured during the Independence Day celebrations, adding that she was also especially proud of those persons who were the first to be recognised in the new category of National Honours, the Order of the Freedom of Barbados. (CLJB)