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Barbados and Mozambique symbolically reaffirmed their ties on Monday when Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and former First Lady of Mozambique and South Africa, Dame Graça Machel, jointly planted an African tulip tree in the Caribbean island’s National Botanical Garden.
The two officials were joined by Minister for Environment and National Beautification, Blue and Green Economy Adrian Forde; Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Culture Senator Dr Shantal Munroe-Knight; dendrologist and Director of the National Botanical Gardens Nigel Jones and other officials.
Speaking about the importance of tree planting, Dame Graça told Prime Minister Mottley: “According to my tradition, where I come from, planting a tree is part of affirming myself as part of the land, the soil. Whether you like it or not, I am affirming myself here.”
Ms Mottley acknowledged the sentiments, noting that the Botanical Gardens in Waterford, St Michael’s, were designed as a place where people from across the island could come together, relax and reflect. While revealing plans for an extension to the garden and the new Geriatric Hospital currently being built, she stressed that there was also interest in an International Botanical Garden.
She added: “We will not only have this side, which is the local national botanical garden, which serves multiple purposes, but we will also have the international side…”
Prime Minister Mottley stressed that the garden was important for the island and especially for the parish of St. Michael, which is home to over 100,000 people, more than a third of the population of Barbados.
Stressing the importance of creating such spaces for people, she told Dame Graça: “We are going to invest because this country cannot do without architecture to support the creative sectors. So that is what is coming, we have made the decision. We have spent billions of dollars on everything else over the years, but the best we have is a theatre that holds 250 people. That cannot work, so there will be an amphitheatre here.”
The Prime Minister also announced that plans were in the works for an amphitheatre in Newton, Christ Church and said work was underway to redevelop Queen’s Park.
“We hope to change people’s psyche and self-perception,” she told Dame Graça.
Welcoming Dame Graça to the National Botanical Garden, Environment Minister Adrian Forde stressed that her high resilience was one of her special qualities, noting: “She speaks to our people as well as to your people.”
Prime Minister Mottley and Dame Graça joined forces to turn the first sod for the planting of the tree. Dame Graça then said: “I have planted myself closer to you. So part of my heart is here.”
During the ceremony, the two officials also unveiled a commemorative plaque on the tree to symbolize the occasion.
Source: Barbados Government Information.
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