As we close out the 2024 Cup Match Classic and our biggest cultural event of the year, I would like to share with you some of the important work we are doing to celebrate our heritage and support athletes and artists within our community.

To promote Bermuda’s cultural heritage, we have introduced or continued to support:

1, The National Cultural Heritage Policy to safeguard our tangible and intangible heritage

2, Creatives.bm Catalogue as an online hub to showcase Bermuda’s creative community

3, The International Gombey Festival Weekend as a celebration of our iconic dance tradition and its African diaspora connections

4, The Bermuda Day Parade as a shining example of our community’s resilience and spirit

Future cultural initiatives include:

• Implementing the National Cultural Heritage Policy

• Enhancing the Creatives.bm Catalogue

• Developing the “Maker Spaces” programme

• Introducing new cultural events such as Carnival in Bermuda, a jazz festival, a film festival and the Bermuda Literary Festival

In sport, our focus on promoting physical health, community spirit and national pride has led to significant achievements:

1, National Sports Policy, a five-year plan to enhance sports participation and international competition eligibility

2, The Sports Investment Programme to guide ministry investments in sport based on accountability and performance

3, The Sport Recognition Policy to provide guidelines for national sports governing bodies

4, Elite Athlete Sponsorship Initiative to provide financial support for promising elite athletes

5, The Flora Duffy Award to incentivise young athletes to demonstrate excellence and leadership

To aid parents who have long endured waiting lists and disappointment in arranging for their children to attend summer-day camps, the Government expanded its summer camp programme, adding $500,000 to reduce the waiting list and partner with private camps. This meant more spots were available for our children, giving them the opportunity to participate in engaging, fun and educational experiences while relieving many parents of the stress and financial burden normally associated with summer childcare.

For too long, Bermuda has undervalued those who were artistic, athletic, innovative and creative. We want every Bermudian to feel that there is more to life than a business career, and that there is a wide array of opportunities for them to demonstrate and be rewarded for their talents. Since 2017, we have been working steadily to shift the narrative and create more opportunities for Bermudians.

As we celebrate or commiserate with each other over the results on the pitch, let us never forget that this week marks a celebration of freedom, a celebration that we, as people of colour, have opportunities that our ancestors couldn’t even have dreamt of. Yet, as we push away the barriers for our artists, athletes and entrepreneurs, we must emerge from Cup Match 2024 renewed in our commitment to keep pushing for even more freedom and opportunities for our people.

• Owen Darrell is the Government Senate Leader and the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport