The Barbados Landship Association’s Tuk Band rendered two religious numbers, visually-impaired Lisa Williams read a lengthy excerpt from the Bible and Praise Academy Of Dance offered the thought-provoking Maternal Ties during yesterday’s National Independence Service.
The service, which ran for almost two hours, also featured prayers from the Muslim and Jewish communities as well as intercessory prayers for the nation and Government, family life, students, youths and people with disabilities.
More than 500 people attended the service at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, among them Cabinet ministers, religious leaders, Girl Guides, Brownies, members of the Barbados Youth Service and the Royal Barbados Police Force Band.
In welcoming the congregation, Monsignor Vincent Blackett of the Catholic Church drew some applause when he dismissed international rating agencies’ downgrade of Barbados.
“No one can downgrade us,” he declared. “We have been upgraded by Jesus Christ.”
He said a number of attempts had been made to grade, downgrade, define and change Barbadians but they needed to remain faithful to the things that had built the nation.
He also said Barbadians should resist “those who are trying to tell us who we ought to be”.
The service also noted the 150th anniversary of the Barbados Landship, with the tuk band rendering God Lift Me Up and When The Saints Go Marching In.
The Sonbeams of Abundant Life Assembly, New Dimensions Dancers, St Philip Primary School Choir, Third Harmony of Combermere School, the String Quartet and Alaina Trotman were also among the performers. (TY)
