Ministerial Statement by the Minister of Social Development and Sports, The Hon. Michael A. Weeks J.P., M.P.
Mr. Speaker, It gives me tremendous pleasure to share with this Honourable House and the people of Bermuda information about some of our exciting Heritage Month events and activities. The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, supported by very keen and committed members of the Heritage Advisory Committee, has chosen the theme this year “What We Share”, a theme that invites us to embrace our heritage and our common ties, while at the same time celebrating our diversity.
Mr. Speaker, The theme “What We Share” is apropriate because it highlights so many different areas, such as our foods, our maritime heritage, our architectural influences, our music, our traditions, our ceremonies, our ethnicities, and our sports. As we reflect on this concept we are able to easily realize that there is so much more that binds us together as a community than that which separates us.
Mr. Speaker, During the month of May, the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, together with several cultural industry and community partners, has organized a number events to celebrate our cultural heritage. It is most fitting that our theme for Heritage Month and Bermuda Day draws attention to aspects of our shared cultural heritage. By acknowledging and reminding ourselves of what we share, we strengthen our community bonds, increase our love for our country and her people, and raise our feelings of pride and esteem. It also serves to remind us not only of what we have achieved but what we can do. Past shared successful experiences help to provide the momentum to propel us forward to achieve even more as a people with an agreed common goal. As a young Bermudian educator, Dr. Shay-Coy Bridgewater, once said “Our seasons in life flavor our journey…” and as a country what we have shared has enriched this island nation’s progress.
Mr. Speaker, This year, as in previous years, there is an array of events that have already taken place. We began our Heritage celebrations with a Seniors’ Craft Show which featured participating seniors from many of the clubs around the island; as well as those who are not members of any particular club. Most of the items displayed in this exhibition were handcrafted using a variety of materials such as wool, cloth, pottery, and yarn. Our seniors spend months preparing for this annual exhibition.
Mr. Speaker, I was impressed with the craftsmanship that had been put into the items on exhibit; and I enjoyed interacting and engaging with the seniors as they showed me such beautifully made hand bags, quilts, hats and crocheted slippers. I even tried on a pair of slippers, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, one of our cultural industry partners, The Bermuda National Gallery, is delighted to share theme of their Biennial Exhibition “What We Share” with us at Community and Cultural Affairs. This year’s Biennial Exhibition opened on May 11th and the exhibition will remain up until December 31st. We invite the public to go and visit this exhibition in the Bermuda National Gallery at City Hall which features many of our own resident local visual artists.
Mr. Speaker, on May 17th the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs organized a presentation by Melodye Micere Van Putten on Global African Inventions held at the Bermuda National Library. As the title suggests this presentation highlighted many of the amazing achievements of persons of African descent – including inventions and innovations.
Mr. Speaker, on May 19th the Bermudian Heartbeats event organized by the Folklife Officer of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs in collaboration with another cultural industry partner- the Bermuda National Trust - will feature a guided boat tour of Hamilton Harbour with speakers Dr. Thomas James, Linda Abend, and Margie Lloyd.
Mr. Speaker, other cultural events occurring throughout May include the following:
- Bermudian Literature classes with author Dr. Angela Barry. These classes are taking place every Tuesday in May from 6 to 8pm at the Bermuda National Library;
- Wild Edible Herbal Walks in lovely places such as Coopers Island and Spittal Pond, led by Doreen Williams James. A Wild Edible Herbal Tasters event is scheduled for 2:00 pm on May 20th at the World Heritage Centre in St. George’s. A Spittal Pond Walk takes place at 2:00 pm on May 27th;
- Performances in the Guitar Festival are scheduled for 7:30 pm at the Bermuda School of Music on May 25th and at 7:30 pm at St. Andrew’s Church on May 26th and May 27th;
- A Piano Festival is scheduled for May 28th and 31st at the Hamilton Princess Hotel starting at 7:00 pm;
- The Chewstick Foundation’s Sunday Brunch and Cultural Awards event on May 20th at the Landfall Restaurant, sponsored in-part by the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs;
- A hat-making demonstration by Ronnie Chameau on May 31st at 6:00 pm at the Bermuda National Library;
- A Premier Night Club Experience on May 26th starting at 10:00 pm at the Oracle Boat Shed in Dockyard, produced by Planning Factory and Sound Concepts, and sponsored in-part by the Ministry of Social Development and Sports; and
- A cultural Film night on May 29th at 6:00 pm at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute organized by the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.
And many other interesting and engaging activities. The entire Heritage Month listing of events can be found on the Department’s website www.communityandculture.bm or flyers available at the Department’s offices in the Dame Lois Browne-Evans Building.
Mr. Speaker, in an effort to further engage our youth, this year for the first time the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, with the support of the Ministry of Education, its Principals, Teachers and students, launched the first Annual Heritage Month Essay Writing Contest. Prizes will be awarded for essay for the following categories:
- Best for Bermuda Pride
- Most Entertaining
- Most Authentic Voice
Mr. Speaker, Heritage Month’s most celebrated events are the Bermuda Day Marathon and the Bermuda Day Parade. For the first time, and going forward every year, the Parade will take place on the last Friday in May. This year May 25th will be celebrated as Bermuda Day. The Parade, with all its colour, rhythmic pulsating sounds, pageantry of creative artistic floats, dancers and Gombeys, will follow the same route starting at 1:30pm. The Bermuda Day Parade will move along Marsh Folly Road and continue right through to the top of Cedar Avenue. The parade then turns left onto Church Street, takes a right down Court Street, a right onto Front Street, and then finally up Queen Street. Floats will make a right turn on to Church Street, and park in front of City Hall and remain there on display.
Mr. Speaker, The Department worked this year to more strategically depict how Heritage Month and Bermuda Day touches the lives of all of us. The Department therefore partnered with CITV to produce fourteen vignettes featuring young and not so young people from all walks of life talking about what they love about Bermuda Day. These vignettes will be aired on CITV, interspersed throughout their programming which presently includes two segments talking about Bermuda Day. The Department has also partnered with Bermemes to produce a video series featuring “behind the scenes” preparations for Bermuda Day and Heritage Month. This series will include float building, Gombey preparations, a look back at 2017 and highlights of the 2018 Bermuda Day Parade; and will be released through Bermemes’ social media.
Mr. Speaker, In closing I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all of our cultural industry partners who continually work collaboratively with the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs to make Heritage Month and Bermuda Day so successful. I am most grateful for all of the participants, the members of the Heritage Advisory Committee, the Royal Bermuda Regiment, the Bermuda Police Service, the Department of Corrections and the Corporation of Hamilton.
Mr. Speaker, Indeed what would a parade be if we did not have our people lining the streets of Hamilton cheering on their favourite groups or welcoming the beautiful pageantry of floats. I am so pleased that each year people come out and set up camp at their favourite spot to enjoy the parade and the festivities of the day. Thank you to the people of Bermuda for making this holiday so special. We encourage members of the public to share their favourite holiday moments on social media by using hashtags #BermudaDay and #BermudaCulture. We also invite the public to follow the Department on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @BermudaCulture to see highlights of the event.
Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not extend my sincerest heartfelt gratitude to the staff at the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs for all of the meticulous work that they put in to organize the Heritage Month activities and the Bermuda Day Parade. In particular I would especially like to acknowledge Carlita Lodge, Cultural Affairs Programme Manager who has worked with passion, enthusiasm, and gusto; and was ably supported by Clyde-A-Mae Tucker, Programme and Event Coordinator. They demonstrated creativity, resourcefulness and perseverance. And I am most appreciative of the continued sterling support that the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs continues to receive from the Department of Communications.
Finally Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to wish all Bermuda residents an enjoyable safe Bermuda Day Holiday as we share this time honoured special day!
Thank you, Mr. Speaker