Minister wants national dress

BARBADOS SHOULD have a national dress by November next year.Minister of Culture Steve Blackett said this would “further imbue a sense of pride in our country”.“I have recently instructed our ministry officials to arrange for the submission of suggestions for the design of a national dress for Barbadians.“This national dress should be designed for practical and convenient wearing by our people and suited to both formal and informal occasions. I am hoping this initiative will come to fruition for our Independence celebrations of 2011,” he said.Blackett added this would not replace the current national costume as he had no intention of discarding it.He was speaking yesterday at the official launch of the Community Independence Celebrations 2010 held at the Jackie Opel Amphitheatre of the General Post Office, Cheapside, The City.Blackett also urged the audience, and all Barbadians, to familiarise themselves with the history of historic Bridgetown and its Garrison as there was an ongoing effort to have it inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.“The story of Bridgetown and its Garrison is our story. It is the story of all Barbadians, It chronicles a very important aspect of our shared heritage, telling of the collective role played in the making of The City.“It crystallises the significant impact which this small city and its Garrison has had on the transformation and development not only on the British Empire but on the known world in Barbados’ early years.“To understand this is to appreciate the extent to which this little Barbados nation had wielded considerable influence during its history and to understand more clearly why we are entitled to declare ourselves an independent nation,” he said.The launch featured several cultural presentations from dance to drama and a special performance by Mike Grosvenor, who was awarded the Jackie Opel Spouge Award by Blackett. (CA)