Minister of MIDH: the Philip Goldson Bust Represents a Hero

The Philip Goldson bust has been mounted at its permanent location atop a marble pedestal protected by barriers at the entrance to the highway named after him. It’s been there about a week now after after it was severely damaged in September of last year. Sculptor, Stephen Okeke got the contract to repair the bust and after a little over two months, it was completed. Today, News Five asked the Minister of Infrastructure Development, Julius Espat about the importance of having the bust repaired and put back in its place.

 

Julius Espat, Minister, MIDH

“Philip Golson is a national hero, just like George Price is a national hero. We thought it was very important that the image of our national hero was destroyed, so we contacted the artiste and we made sure that he was given deposits based on the quality of work and the time frame and he came through. So the final product is now there. And we added a couple little, as you would say, nice features, like the marble. I think it’s a national hero, so why not? And the Chief Engineer also placed some protective barriers so that it can minimize the toppling down again of the statue or the bust. But again, nobody should be speeding around that roundabout. So, as I said, we can only do our part, and we as a culture, all of us, have to look out for this country and look out for the things that you all invest in. Remember that all of that is your money. You pay taxes and your taxes are what’s putting these things up. But we have to, we have to be proud of our national heroes.”