Theme: “Colours, Sights, & Sounds Of Bermuda”

Good Afternoon!

Today I am very pleased to announce the Heritage Month theme for 2013 – The Colours, Sights, and Sounds of Bermuda. This is a theme that speaks for itself and will no doubt resonate throughout the island – after all where in the world do you have turquoise waters, pastel coloured housing, pink busses and the symphony of the tree-frogs, the great kiskadee and the infectious Gombey rhythms – all unique to Bermuda.

As with every Heritage Month the theme is chosen to be a celebration of the unique things that make Bermuda an attractive place including the following:

• the Environmental aspects – the ocean –the clear blue waters, – the open spaces, the well groomed landscaping, vibrant vegetation, the golf courses, the tree-lined streets,
• the landscape, the fauna – the sounds of the tree-frog and the Kiskadee (as mentioned earlier), the Cahow, the Longtail,
• the sounds of the bikes, the buses, the music made by our local musicians
• the architecture and the white roofs; the bright and pastel colours
• the general cleanliness
• the graciousness of our people
• Cup Match, Bermuda Day, Good Friday
• Children’ s school uniforms
• Bermuda fashions….

I welcome and encourage everyone in the community to warmly embrace this theme and celebrate Heritage Month during the month of May and participate in the upcoming events organized by the team at the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.

This is an opportunity for craft makers, painters, musicians, dancers, jewelry makers, writers and anyone else who would like to display the rich texture of our culture and contribute in celebrating in making this year’s Heritage Month a truly wonderful experience for all to enjoy.

This worthy endeavor is also an opportunity to address the Premier’s call for each member of the Cabinet to integrate a means by which to positively affect this fight against gun violence and the gang lifestyle.

Ladies and gentlemen, the fight against violence in our neighborhoods starts with encouraging our youth to focus on pursuits that will have a positive impact on their communities by exploring aspects of their heritage they have lost touch with and connecting with the colours, sights, and sounds of Bermuda. We must include and not alienate this generation!.

My hope is that we can unite as a community, both young and not so young, black and white, Bermudian and non-Bermudian, and set aside our differences and show that we can come together to showcase the very best we have to offer and to revel in our unique diversity!

Thank you.

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