The Bay Primary School attended by National Hero Sir Garfield Sobers is set to be renamed in his honour as part of a broader effort to preserve the cricket legend’s legacy for future generations.
Prime Minister Mia Mottley made the announcement on Friday as Parliament paid tribute to Sir Garfield, revealing that more than 300 signatures had already been submitted to the Cabinet Office in support of renaming the school the Sir Garry Sobers Primary School.
The proposal is expected to go before the National Honours Advisory Council.
“I would be surprised if there was anybody in Barbados who would find any difficulty whatsoever with the immortalising of a man from the Bayland, for his name to be attached to the school that will be responsible for the rearing of the majority of children coming from that community,” Mottley said.
She said the renaming would serve as a lasting source of inspiration for generations of children.
“And whose name will stand forever as inspiration for those young boys and girls to believe and to know that it is possible to be born where they were born, to be raised where they were raised, to go to school where they go to school and to achieve global excellence. There could be no more long-lasting and fitting tribute.”
The Prime Minister also announced that the Government intends to publish a pocket-sized book, 365 Not Out, to ensure Sir Garfield’s values continue to shape future generations of Barbadians.
She shared that the publication would feature one lesson or message for every day of the year, drawing on the life, character and achievements of the National Hero.
“The Government has determined that the best way to also reinforce that memory, not just for the primary school children of Bay Primary, but for all schoolchildren in this country, is to publish a book, a small pocketbook called 365 Not Out,” Mottley said.
“One lesson and message for each day of the year.”
She said the publication would seek to capture the qualities that defined Sir Garfield beyond his cricketing achievements.
Mottley expressed the hope that the book would be published by the beginning of next year and distributed to every schoolchild in Barbados as a rite of passage through the education system.
During her tribute, the Prime Minister said Sir Garfield’s greatest legacy extended beyond his extraordinary cricketing accomplishments to the humility, discipline, patriotism and excellence that defined his character.
“We need to create a legacy for Sir Gary that allows the commitment to excellence anchored by the humility of the man to shine bright,” she said.
The Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers was one of two of the country’s only living National Hero at the time of his passing and was accorded a State Funeral on July 29, drawing thousands of Barbadians and widespread international recognition.
