Families in Christ Church East Central marked National Heroes Day with a strong sense of community on Tuesday, after Member of Parliament Ryan Straughn quickly organised a family fun day in Wotton following the cancellation of the Barbados Labour Party’s annual Heroes Day Picnic and Rally.
The event drew residents from across the constituency, with music, karaoke, jumping tents and a wide range of food creating a lively, festive atmosphere.
“We are here at Wotton with our family today. We had to do a quick rejig based on the cancellation of our annual picnic that we would normally take people down to the East Coast. And from all reports, we’ve had a good time. The food is great. The entertainment is nice,” Straughn said.
Highlighting the informal and interactive nature of the day, the minister said he joined children in recreational activities, reinforcing the event’s family-centred focus. “I just raced about 12 children to the jumping tent and that was great fun. So all in all, a good event, good family event. Wholesome.”
He stressed that beyond entertainment, the initiative carried a deeper message.
“Community life and family life is critical to social cohesion. And to that extent, we have been encouraging people to make sure that if they see something, they say something and they can do so in a way that allows them to assure the safety of their children and their families,” he said.
He added that safeguarding young people must remain a shared responsibility across households and communities.
“So community life is particularly important. And that is why it is critical that as stakeholders, as parents, guardians, families, that we need to make sure that we safeguard the best interests of our children for the love for the future,” Straughn said.
(SZB)
