SHE DID IT: Rihanna with the award for Best Rap Collaboration for Umbrella at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday in Los Angeles. (AP Picture.)

by MARIA BRADSHAW

BARBADOS will be celebrating Grammy Award winner Rihanna's mega achievement officially.

While not going into details, Prime Minister David Thompson said yesterday: "We look forward to celebrating her win as soon as time permits."

The 19-year-old chart-topping R&B songstress became the first Barbadian to win a Grammy Award when she won Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for her popular hit Umbrella featuring Jay-Z, on Sunday night at the 50th Grammy Awards ceremony.

Thompson sent a congratulatory message to the star yesterday via video through the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA).

In a Press release he noted: "Words cannot express the excitement and pride felt by Barbadians around the world when our superstar Rihanna won her first Grammy Award after being discovered merely two years ago," adding, "thank you, Rihanna, for remembering Barbados."

Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy also lauded the teenager's continued success, pointing out that her shout-out to Barbados in her acceptance speech was priceless.

"In real terms we cannot even begin to calculate what it is worth. We appreciate the fact that she has recognised the importance of tourism and the role she can play in developing the country.

"We are proud of her ongoing relationship with the BTA. She has always done her work and she is prepared to give back even at this stage of her career," he said.

Opposition Leader Mia Mottley also spoke to Rihanna on the telephone immediately after she received her award.

She urged Rihanna to continue to follow her dream, noting: "She now represents the future of hope for an entire generation of Caribbean artistes and young people who need to know: 'Yes, we can!'"

David Comissiong, president of the People's Empowerment Party (PEP), said Rihanna had emerged as an inspiring role model for all of the young people of Barbados.

"The PEP would also like to recognise and laud the role that Rihanna is playing as a trail-blazer and catalyst for other promising young Barbadian performers on the international scene."

As her name was called, a blushing Rihanna stood and hugged her mentor Jay-Z before proceeding to the stage.

Laughing, she joked: "Dad, I know I promised you I am going to give you my first Grammy but we might have to fight for this one."

Rihanna then thanked several people, including her family: "I'd like to thank Jay-Z for being a part of this record with me . . . Mom, Dad, my two brothers Rory and Rajad. Barbados, I love you! We got one," Rihanna exclaimed, as she held her Grammy aloft.