Newest centenarian lauded for approach to family and education

RICHARD HINDS is Barbados’ newest centenarian.

Yesterday, he was surrounded by family and well-wishers at his family home in St. Silas Heights, where anecdotes on the life and times of the patriarch of the household were shared.

Governor General, Her Excellency Dame Sandra Mason, while wishing Hinds a happy birthday, told his children that in many ways their story mirrored her own family, noting that she too came from a family of nine children, also coming from poor means and from parents who underscored the importance of education to escape poverty.

She also commended the nature of Richard Hinds and in general the male centenarians with whom she has come into contact over the past two years since she became the Governor General of Barbados. She noted that while very few men have made it to the coveted century, they have been wonderful men.

“...Over two years and I have visited probably over 50 centenarians. In the first year, 2018, 37 alone. Very few men I have had the good fortune to visit.”

“And so on behalf of my father, who would have been 116 had he been alive… and all of the men I have visited, [I must say they] have been wonderful men. They have taken care of their families. He recognised the value of education with nine children. We were poor and understood the value of education … that with education you could reach whatever heights you can reach. And they sacrificed like your dad, to provide for their nine children.

“I join in the honouring of your dad. To find men that understand their responsibility to their children and to their family, I am always especially happy. And also when you have men like your dad you know they grew up in an era when life was not easy.”

The Governor General also commended his approach to discipline while lamenting that times have changed. “The days of grown-ups being able to speak to children are far gone, unfortunately, because I don’t think there are many adults who would dare to speak to anybody else’s child nowadays because you get a blessing of a different kind. But certainly in the days that we grew up we had to obey the ten commandments. We had to listen and respect adults.”

Richard Harris, who was surrounded by children Grafton, Pamela, Richard Jr., Roger and Edward and other friends and family, said he felt “very nice” with no complaints of physical pain. He said he grew up eating ground provisions and has a little rum at times. He also enjoys rice and cou-cou.

His son Edward described his father as caring and loving, one who made sure that his children always had enough to eat, that they were clothed and that they went to school and were on time. He said education was for his father and mother the most important part of their lives and saw it as the only way out of poverty.
He noted that his father, who grew up in Orange Hill St. James, worked on Water Hall and Apes Hill plantations. His father chimed in that “money was small” at that time. His son noted that his father worked in sun and rain, making a hoodie out of a crocus bag as a shield from the elements to provide for his family. (JH)