Visiting fans coming to the Kensington Oval in June for the ICC
Men’s T20 World Cup and the nine matches that Barbados is
hosting – including the finals – will see the new statue of Former West
Indies cricketer Sir Charles (“Charlie”) Griffith! The statue was unveiled on
Monday, March 25, 2024 during a ceremony organized by the Barbados
Cricket Association, which coordinated the associated logistics and and
attendance by various stakeholders.
Sir Charles and Prime Minister Mia Mottley attended the ceremony along
with 200 guests, which included Chief Justice Sir Pattenson Cheltenham,
former Chief Justice Sir David Simmons, Cameron Cammie Smith, the oldest
living West Indian cricketer, cricket legends Sir Wes Hall and Joel Garner,
Minister of Sports Charles Griffith, Minister of Housing Dwight Sutherland, and
Leader of the Opposition Ralph Thorne.
The former West Indies pacer, 85, took
94 wickets in 28 Tests between 1960
and 1969 for West Indies and formed
a deadly fast-bowling partnership
with Sir Wes Hall.
Griffith also captured 98 wickets at an average of
28.54 in just 28 Tests played for the
West Indies. He also captured 332
wickets in 96 first-class matches at an
average of 21.60.
The statue displays Griffith in his delivery stride with
his body leaning forward and his eyes firmly fixed
on the target.
Sir Charles shared what he considered
to be the key to his success, hard work. He said ‘I
am an ordinary boy from St. Lucy but because of
hard work and diligence I was able to achieve my
dreams’. He thanked his parents and praised his
headmaster at St Clements Boys School, the late
Ignatius Byer who played a role in his development
as a cricketer when he was a student.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley speaking at
the ceremony, where the statute of National
Hero Sir Garfield Sobers is also located, revealed
that ‘what we are seeing here is only just the
beginning’. The statutes, she said will forever stand
as an inspiration for all of us.
A plaque marking the occasion was also unveiled
by Kemar Roach and Sir Wes Hall.