Authored by Professor Emeritus Alan Cobley and Dr. Tara Inniss
We watched the most recent episode of Sherwood McCaskie’s “My Community” which celebrated the work of the late historian, Trevor Marshall, with great interest. Trevor was not only a dear colleague, but an outstanding teacher of Barbadian history, whose contribution to this country has rightly been widely praised since his passing. In the episode, Dr. Henderson Carter spoke on Trevor’s important role in Barbados as an “activist historian”. For his part, Ambassador David Comissiong recalled how the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) invited Trevor to provide commentary as Nelson’s statue was removed from National Heroes Square (formerly Trafalgar Square) in Bridgetown.
It has been reported that this is the last time ‘My Community’ will be aired with Mr McCaskie at the helm. If this is so, it is regrettable. However, we wish to congratulate the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) for sharing community stories from across the island in this programme over the past five years. We also wish to thank the corporate sponsors of the series, who have demonstrated by their support that corporate Barbados can make an important contribution to preserving our audio-visual heritage. Sherwood McCaskie is also owed our thanks, as he has played a pivotal role in sharing our history with the nation, both as a presenter and by his long service as the CBC’s Head of Archives and Information. As professional historians we value the stories that people can share through oral history, and it has been heart-warming to see Barbadians share their stories, and to see viewers tune in each week to connect with their history by viewing this compelling programme.
As historians, we consider the work of librarians and archivists to be of critical importance in allowing people to engage with their past. We rely on their unique abilities to preserve and protect the documentary and archival record. Their stewardship of public archives, which helps to ensure that they remain accessible to the community they serve, is particularly important. We trust that as the CBC moves forward with its declared aim of becoming a fully digital platform, it will be fully aware of the continuing need to employ both digital librarians and archivists to curate its invaluable collections. At times, the CBC has had challenges in preserving its audio-visual archives – for example, sustaining damage from fire and loss of recordings: clearly, competent archival staff are more critical than ever to maintain the integrity of such an important national asset. It is also important to ensure that future use of the collection is duly protected according to the terms of the relevant data protection legislation through the use of signed media releases and by other means.
Finally, we hope that CBC in its new dispensation will not forget its obligation to serve and inform the Barbadian public, particularly in helping Barbadians to know and understand their history.
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