Toriano ‘Onyan’ Edwards, the eldest sibling in the popular Burning Flames band, says he ‘very pleased’ with the recent recognition of their contributions to Antigua and Barbuda music and culture with the naming of the Potters Main Road as the Burning Flames Highway. The award is significant as the family home for the Edwards Family was located on the highway that now carries the name of the Burning Flames.
On Sunday, a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister announced that with the concurrence of members of the Cabinet, Prime Minister Gaston Browne renamed the Potters Main Road as the Burning Flames Highway with immediate effect. That night, during the Party Monarch competition, Minister of Creative Industries, Daryll Matthew formally presented members of the Burning Flames – brothers, Toriano, Clarence ‘Oungku’ and David ‘Crocus’ Edwards and nephew Rhone ‘Foxx’ Watkins – with the citation marking the band’s 40th anniversary of contributing to Antigua and Barbuda culture and music and official naming of the highway.
“It is quite an achievement which we as members of the Burning Flames gladly accept in recognition of the 40th anniversary milestone. However, I would also wish to accept the honour on behalf of the people who have supported us all these years. Burning Flames has always about the people and I am especially happy that this honour has the overwhelming support of the people,” he stated.
According to Toriano, the support of the people has sustained the Burning Flames for 40 years and the naming of the highway in their honour is a historic development that will recognize their contributions for many generations to come. He added that many years into the future questions will be asked about the fact that a highway was named in Burning Flames’ honour and the retelling of their stories will ensure that the name Burning Flames will live on for decades into the future.
Meanwhile, the renaming of the highway to honour Burning Flames is just one of several initiatives announced by the Prime Minister. The full text of the media statement is as follows;
Prime Minister Gaston Browne, with the unanimous support of his Cabinet, announces that the Potters Main Road shall be re-named “THE BURNING FLAMES HIGHWAY” commencing on this date.
The Cabinet also agreed that during the independence celebrations, Burning Flames Band will be nominated for a National Award at the very next Independence Award ceremonies, for their forty years of outstanding contributions to the cultural art form.
All four members of the Burning Flames will also be issued Diplomatic Passports to enable them to travel with greater dignity and respect whenever they arrive on foreign shores.
The Prime Minister is delighted to have this announcement reach every Antiguan and Barbudan citizen in recognition of the Burning Flames influence in every Carnival since 1985.
Congratulations!
