ONE RELIGIOUS LEADER has urged the Ministry of Education and corporate Barbados to back all levels of the Girl Guides Association of Barbados.

Father Clement Paul made the call Sunday when he addressed the Annual Thinking Day Of Service at Kensington Oval, Fontabelle, St Michael, minutes after the thousands had marched from Pelican Village.

Under the theme Water Is Life, he said to the Blossoms, the Brownies, Guides and Rangers: "I would like to challenge the Ministry of Education to find some way in the grading system to grade them academically for being members of this group.

Creativity

"They are being educated in resilience, creativity and they are being challenged . . . so grade them by it as a sign that we appreciate what is happening to them," he urged.

To corporate Barbados, he called on their support to back these young women, the same way they backed Grammy Award-winning Robyn Rihanna Fenty.

"[Rihanna] got a lot and I am happy for her, but what about these girls?" he queried.

"When will you make room for them? Give them a reduction in airfares so they can travel to other countries and meet other Girl Guides, Brownies and Blossoms," he said to thunderous applause.

Support girls

Turning his attention to country, he insisted that now was the time that these girls be "lifted up and supported".

He then lauded the leaders for their "time to prune, encourage and above all to love the nation's little children".

"Every little girl should be told that there is no movement as great as the Girl Guides and they should be encouraged to join it," he said.

The close to three-hour event saw the receiving of colours which saw former Prime Minister Owen Arthur and his wife Julie proudly looking on as their daughter Leah presented one of the flags.

There were also awards given to the top Blossom, Brownie, Girl Guide and Ranger. And there were poetry, music and dance presentations from members of the movement, with most of it backed by the Royal Barbados Police Band. (TM)