New Walk Explores New Stories

Heritage lovers will have a chance to enjoy another aspect of our sweet stories as the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) unfolds the new “Bridgetown by Night: On the Road to Independence” Crop Over Heritage Walk in association with the Barbados Public Workers Co-operative Credit Union Limited and the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc.  Bridgetown by Night got an overhaul in its fourth edition with a new tour, telling new stories of the statesmen and women, and ordinary citizens who have contributed to the development of our country and this beautiful city of Bridgetown.  These are the words of Alison Sealy-Smith, Manager, Special Projects, NCF and Producer of the event spoken at the launch of the event held at Independence Square, today, Wednesday May 25th.

This unique heritage experience takes place on Sunday, June 5, 2016, starting from Cricket Legends on Fontabelle and ending at Independence Square with a fabulous finale in store, as well as local treats to enjoy before boarding the Transport Board buses that will shuttle patrons back to the parking facilities on Fontabelle.

There will be two tours, one at 6:00 p.m. and the other at 7:00 p.m., and Ms. Sealy-Smith confirmed that tickets are already on sale from TicketPal.com and from their physical outlets.  She cautioned that tickets to this event are known to go quickly, so they should purchase them today in order to avoid disappointment.

“Bridgetown by Night: On the Road to Independence” has been specially designed to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the designation of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison as a UNESCO World Heritage Property.

This guided walking tour through Bridgetown will bring the past alive with historically accurate costuming and props, dancers, singers, actors and ‘living’ statues.  As the title suggests, this year’s tour also tells the story of the role our capital city has played in taking us on that journey from slavery to sovereign nationhood.

In detailing what patrons can expect on the walk, Ms. Sealy-Smith noted that many of the stories will be excitingly new, adding that attendees will meet characters like Captain Rumball, who gave his name to our most famous beverage; Joseph Rachell, Hannah Massiah and Deighton Mottley. They will be thrilled by the melodious sounds of the one and only Jackie Opel; they will witness the oratorical skills of the Right Excellent Clement Payne and walk on the road to Independence by the side of the Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow. The stories will be as diverse as they are entertaining, all of them focusing on Bridgetown as a vibrant hotbed of constantly evolving commercial and political activity and perhaps one of the most important stops on the road to Independence.

Remarking on the reasons behind the production of these types of events she continued, culture and heritage already constitute a strong selling point and a strategic focus in the continued quest to position Barbados as a leader in an increasingly competitive tourism market. Many destinations can boast of sea, sand and sun but none of them have our unique people and stories.  It is not only for this reason that the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) has invested considerable resources in the conceptualisation and execution of world class ‘culturally enhanced’ heritage tours, but because the Foundation recognises that it is not just about learning information on our history and heritage that is important.  It also understands that key to preserving our cultural heritage is the provision of opportunities for Barbadians and visitors alike to feel and experience facets of the past that are central to the very identity and sense of communal belonging.

Ms. Sealy-Smith highlighted some of the key players in the production of this event saying, “This year’s night-time walking tour would not have been possible without people like Morris Greenidge, historian, writer and tour guide extraordinaire; the erudite and always entertaining historian, Kevin Farmer; the inimitable Glenn Brathwaite who is a miracle worker of a costume designer and of course, most importantly, our sponsors – the Barbados Public Workers Cooperative Credit Union Limited and the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc.  Thank you for believing!”

Special thanks also went to the University of the West Indies, the Ministry of Transport and Works, the National Conservation Commission, the National Sports Council and to Mr. Thompson of Thompson Marine for working with the NCF team to make this new heritage initiative a success.

“Bridgetown by Night: On the Road to Independence is an unforgettable, dramatic, visually exciting, history laden journey through this centuries old ‘city that never sleeps.’