Central Bank Committed to Supporting the Arts

REMARKS delivered by  

Mr. Elson Gaskin, Deputy Governor (Ag.)

at the

19TH ANNUAL FRANK COLLYMORE LITERARY ENDOWMENT AWARDS

Saturday, January 7, 2017

Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. DeLisle Worrell and Mrs. Monica Drayton-Worrell, distinguished keynote speaker Dr. Karen Lord, Ms. Sheron Johnson, Senior Cultural Policy Officer, Ministry of Family, Culture, Sports and Youth, Mr. Antonio Rudder, Chairman of the FCLE, Mrs. Ellice Collymore, other members of the FCLE Committee, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good evening;

It is my distinct pleasure, on behalf of the Governor, management and staff of the Central Bank of Barbados to welcome you to this the 19th edition of the FCLE awards ceremony being held in this the 30th anniversary year of the Frank Collymore Hall and the 45th anniversary year of the Central Bank.

I therefore wish to highly commend Fran and her staff here at the Frank Collymore Hall for their tireless and exemplary work in supporting the artistic life of this country in all its facets. The Central Bank has a wealth of talent among its staff, who work diligently to co-ordinate and execute its various events and these I daresay; are our finest resources. I also salute those visionaries who would have established the Hall and Grande Salle in 1986; for their foresight in bringing such a facility to reality 

These awards are dedicated to the memory of the late Barbadian literary hero Frank Collymore and further, are utilised as a vehicle for recognizing, rewarding and promoting indigenous authorship and creative expression, as displayed in poetry, prose and sometimes drama.

I must therefore also heartily commend the FCLE Committee led by Mr. Antonio Rudder for the sterling work it continues to do in relation to the promotion Barbadian of art and culture in general and the locally written word in particular. This annual review and recognition of Barbadian writers as well as the other work of the FCLE Committee throughout the year, does its part to ensure that Barbadian literary works will be preserved for the use and benefit of the present and future generations. 

This past year in addition to the already well utilized Hall, Grande Salle and Church Village Green, we have added the Exchange Museum to the fast growing cultural hub in the environs of the Central Bank. It is my dream that the Cathedral Church of St. Michael and All Angels will be incorporated more closely as a cultural element in the space. I often look down at the Cathedral Church constructed in the form of cross and the old Masonic Lodge building that now houses the Exchange roughly built in the form of a compass and square and marvel at how well they meet on the level.

On February 4, this cultural space will be the host venue of the third annual Fish and Dragon Festival to celebrate the Chinese New Year and you are all invited.  The festival is a collaboration between the Bank and the Embassy for the People' Republic of China in Barbados. The festival show cases through art, culture and education the strong relationship between China and Barbados.

The Bank marks its 45th anniversary in May this year, and among the celebrations is a major dramatic production, reinforcing the Bank's unstinting support for the arts.

During the months of July and August the Bank will again be the title sponsor of the Crop Over Visual Arts Festival in which our brothers and sisters who utilise the paint brush and palette and in some cases the mallet and chisel to give life to their creative talents; will have their day.

In a few moments the names of this year’s awardees will be revealed. I commend their work to your most careful perusal and enjoyment in due course. I also congratulate the awardees in advance. Long may Barbadian literary traditions thrive and prosper. Again, I heartily welcome you to the Central Bank and these awards. I trust that you will have a most memorable evening. It is still new enough in the year for me to wish you good health and all things that are beneficial to you in 2017 and always.