Bajan Folk Brew and Independence Lighting Ceremony Expands to Children's Homes with New Corporate Sponsors

This year’s Independence lighting ceremony and Bajan Folk Brew will be a special one as corporate sponsors have joined with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment to light up additional areas this year, including two children’s homes.

During a brief press briefing at the ministry’s Sky Mall location on Friday, Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith, announced that Sagicor Life Inc., title sponsor of the event, has been joined by CIBC First Caribbean, Massy Barbados, DeAnna Dash Toy Store and NSR Limited to bring Independence cheer to the nation.

The minister thanked the companies for their support and expressed hope that organisations would come on board for future projects.

“We can only hope that this [programme] goes from strength to strength and that we continue to light the nation, not only in a literal way. I remember last year, I asked persons to turn on their light of humanity, in terms of how we treat our fellow man.

“This is the Year of the Youth and every year a particular person is selected to flick the switch, and this year we have Ashton Hoyte who is a very young individual, who is blind [and] attending Harrison College. He was the only person selected to flick this year because the ministry is all inclusive in terms of all of our activities…. Every single aspect of the ministry’s planning, we try to include persons with disabilities, and this lighting programme is not outside of that.”

In addition to the usual lights at roundabouts, public locations, including the Child Care Board’s Marina Brewster Children’s Home in Farrs, St Peter, and the Nightengale Village in Black Rock, St Michael, will be lit.

Gay Griffith, Vice President, Sales at Sagicor Life Inc. Barbados, said his company was delighted to be back on board for the project. Sagicor has provided $25 000 for the programme.

“I am elated to see that this programme has successfully attracted the support of new corporate sponsors this year, allowing for additional facilities around Barbados to be illuminated [and] it has also allowed for support to be provided to the Child Care Board.

“Our continued commitment to the lighting ceremony therefore reflects our unwavering belief and confidence in this island’s future, and our understanding and acceptance of our role as a corporate citizen,” Griffith said.

Associate Director, Client and Employee Engagement, at CIBC First Caribbean, Maria Boyce-Taylor, said the bank was not only proud to be involved in the ceremony

but also to contribute to lighting up the Marina Brewster Children’s Home.

“We are truly excited to be working with our friends at A&R Electricals to illuminate the grounds and residents of the home in the national colours, bringing their clients and staff members fully into the Independence celebrations.

“On November 1 when the lights are illuminated, the Marina Brewster Centre will glow in blue and gold. Since the Yuletide season falls directly after our celebrations of Independence, we will switch the lighting and decor there to bring Christmas cheer to them for the entire month of December,” Boyce-Taylor said. (SB)