The Reverend Ruth Anne Goldson laughs heartily with Winston Bayley, Honorary Consul of Barbados to Jamaica outside the University Chapel on the Mona Campus. Both attended the Service of Thanksgiving celebrating the 36th anniversary of Barbados' Independence. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer THE INDEPENDENCE of any country should be celebrated by making a joyful noise and that is exactly what Barbadians or Bajans did on Sunday at the University Chapel on the Mona Campus.
The actual Independence Day is November 30 and this year the island with the trident in its flag is now 36 years old. The service was approximately one and a half hours long and it had a truly Caribbean feel to it, as of the three officiating ministers, one hailing from St. Kitts and Nevis, another from St. Maarten and the other from Jamaica. The message was delivered by Reverend Clifton Morris from Barbados.
In a thought-provoking sermon, Reverend Morris cited that the celebration of freedom should be a grand occasion whether that of a country gaining independence or as a person accepting salvation. He cited that celebration was an important element in the Christian faith but warned against the type of celebration which signifies nothing. He charged that with God in control, there is always a reason to celebrate.
Honorary Consul of Barbados to Jamaica, Winston Bayley, then brought greetings on behalf of Prime Minister, Owen Arthur. Mr. Bayley, reading directly from Mr. Arthur's speech, praised the growing sense of nationhood that Bajans were beginning to show. He pointed out that the future would be challenging for a small developing nation and it would require the interest and assistance of Bajans home and abroad.
