Peace Pole unveiled at Cave Hill
07 January 2022
The Peace Pole at The UWI Cave Hill Campus
The UWI Cave Hill Campus is now home to the first Peace Pole to be planted in Barbados.
A Peace Pole is an internationally recognised symbol of the hopes and dreams of humankind, and stands vigil in silent prayer for peace on earth. Each Peace Pole bears the words ‘May Peace Prevail on Earth’ in different languages on each of its four or six sides.
The Peace Pole project was launched in 1955 and today there are approximately 250 000 such poles around the world.
The pole at Cave Hill was the initiative of the Rotary Club of Barbados South, which is seeking to erect them at 60 schools across the island.
A ceremonial unveiling of the pole took place on campus on January 4, attended by various officials including Chief Justice and Patron of the Rotary Club of Barbados South, Sir Patterson Cheltenham; Minister of Home Affairs, Wilfred Abrahams; Senator Dr. John Rogers; Principal of Cave Hill, Professor Clive Landis; Chief Education Officer, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw; Rotary International District 7030 Governor, Sonya Alleyne, and President of the Rotary Club of Barbados South, George Connolly.
From left: Senator Dr. John Rogers; Minister of Home Affairs, Wilfred Abrahams; Rotary International District 7030 Governor, Sonya Alleyne; Chief Justice, Sir Patterson Cheltenham; President of Rotary Club of Barbados South, George Connolly; Interact President at Queen’s College, Kenya Franklin; Principal of The UWI Cave Hill Campus, Prof. Clive Landis, and Vice President of Rotary Club of Barbados South, Stephen Broome at the unveiling of the Peace Pole
Prof. Landis said the University was honoured to be chosen as the site of the island’s inaugural Peace Pole, adding: “The inscription on the pole is deceptively simple: may peace prevail on earth. As we reflect on that invocation, we recognize that peace can only prevail when conditions for peace exist.
“As an example, a precondition for peace is that there is freedom. Freedom from bondage of any kind, (and) also freedom to express yourself, and the freedom to disagree with someone in a peaceful manner. There can be no peace without these three freedoms,” Prof. Landis stated.
Alleyne told the ceremony that this project was in keeping with Rotary’s vision for a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe.
“It’s represented here as we, through the Queen’s College Interact Club, dedicate this peace pole, the first in Barbados. Our youth are at a crossroads; indeed our society is. Let us use these symbols to step back and recognize that for peace to reign it must begin with each and every one of us,” she said.
It is hoped that this Peace Pole will also help to strengthen the bonds between Cave Hill and the Rotary Club of Barbados South.
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