The Caribbean region will come together at Golden Square Freedom Park in Bridgetown, Barbados on Sunday, October 9, 2022, to celebrate the amazing life and career of the late great Robert “Bobby” Clarke – one of the Caribbean’s greatest sons.
Though born and bred in Barbados, Bobby Clarke’s life-long career of political and social activism impacted several Caribbean countries, inclusive of Dominica, Trinidad, and Tobago, St. Lucia, Guyana, Cuba, Venezuela, and Grenada.
Indeed, this British-trained Barbadian lawyer was a confidant and political collaborator of such Caribbean statesmen as Maurice Bishop, Unison Whiteman, Makandal Daaga, Rosie Douglas, Walter Rodney, Khafra Kambon, Tim Hector, George Odlum, Ralph Gonsalves, David Abdullah, Eusi Kwayana and the list goes on.
Over a prolonged period of some 60 years, Bobby Clarke made critical and indelible contributions to the advancement of the Caribbean in a multiplicity of capacities – political activist, human rights lawyer, trade unionist, Pan-Africanist, humanitarian and revolutionary.
So, it is only fitting that outstanding Caribbean statesmen and artists will journey from across the region to Bridgetown to pay tribute to Bobby Clarke this coming weekend.
The event, titled “An Evening of Tributes to Bobby”, will feature tributes from the likes of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Khafra Kambon, and David Abdullah of Trinidad and Tobago; Ms. Peggy Nesfield of Grenada; Ambassador Sergio Pastrana of Cuba; Her Excellency Martha Ortega of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados.
Also paying tribute to Bobby will be an impressive line-up of his closest Barbadian associates – Mr. Trevor Prescod M.P., Dr. Myrna Belgrave J.P., Mr. David Denny J.P., Ms. Arthurine Reece, Mr. Anthony “Nagga” Austin, Mr. David Cumberbatch, and Ambassador David Comissiong. In addition, a special presentation will be made by Bobby’s younger biological, adopted, and spiritual “children”.
Bobby Clarke was also a strong supporter of the Arts, and several of Barbados’ most outstanding and progressive cultural artists will be paying tribute to Bobby in song, dance, and poetry on Sunday. The line-up includes Senator John King, Mike Sealy, Marisa Lindsay, Israel Lovell Foundation Drummers, Winston Farrell, Onkphra Wells, Lion Soul, Riddim Tribe and Most Hon. Anthony “Gabby” Carter.
The “Evening of Tributes to Bobby” commences at 5:30 P.M.
Thank you Bobby Clarke, brave Pan-Africanist when everyone was expected to be silent.
So seriously, is there no celebration in Dominica of our past recent political heroes like Dame Dr. Mary Eugenia Charles, Roosevelt Bernard “Rosie” Douglas, J. R. Ralph Casimir among others? We have no recent national heroes in Dominica worthy of celebrating while the rest of the world celebrate those mentioned above?
Well done Barbados, we all remember Robert “Bobby” Clarke and his work alongside some of our most prolific Caribbean liberation activists! Robert “Bobby” Clarke, we thank you and we celebrate you as one of those who contributed to our advancement as a Caribbean people.