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Remembering Brother B
Champion of Food, Farmer, and Fighter for the People
By Julian Rogers
Caribbean Bridges with Julian Rogers | [email protected]
In the life of Hilson Baptiste, affectionately known across Antigua and Barbuda as Brother B, food was far more than nourishment—it was culture, conviction, and a calling.
Whether presiding over a steaming pot in his spirited kitchen on Long Street, sharing stories thick with humour and wisdom, or representing his nation abroad, Brother B’s passion always began and ended with food.
His kitchen was legendary—a gathering place for meals, ideas, laughter, and love.
Yet, in his public life as Minister of Agriculture, his culinary compass found national direction.
He was tireless in his mission to place food production and food security at the heart of the development agenda. For Brother B, it wasn’t policy—it was personal.
He believed fervently that no food should be wasted.
He was known to chide diners who left their meat untouched, sometimes even reclaiming it himself, asserting that every bit of nourishment should be respected.
For him, food waste represented a moral failure.
But Brother B was more than a culinary crusader.
He was a voice—bold, clear, and unflinching—in defence of those he called “poor people”. He fought hard, with heart and heat, for fairness, always siding with those he believed were treated unjustly.
And though passionate in debate, he always sought agreement, believing that shared understanding was the true measure of leadership.
Even when health challenges arose later in life, Brother B faced them with the same resolute spirit that defined his political and personal journey.
He remained active, sharp, and determined—a fighter.
He didn’t just urge people to eat what they grew; he also fought for the farmers, encouraged backyard gardening, mentored young people, and built partnerships with local and international allies.
He viewed those who worked the soil as stewards of Antigua and Barbuda’s dwindling breadbasket and honoured their labour with his words and actions.
Brother B’s legacy is deeply rooted in the soil and soul of this nation.
His vision lives on in every local dish served with pride, every school garden planted with purpose, and every policy shaped with the people in mind.
He was, in every way, a man of the people—rooted, resilient, and real.
May Antigua and Barbuda always remember Brother B—not just as a Minister and advocate, but as a man who transformed food into a language of love, a platform for justice, and a rallying cry for national pride.
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So very well articulated, Mr. Julian Rogers. You have encapsulated the life and times of Brother B, The Hon. Hilson Baptiste, champion of ‘his round south’ people so well. He is and always will be remembered fondly, that broad smile that could light up a room, that booming voice making his clarion call regarding food security for our nation, that fighting spirit for the causes he championed.
Condolences to his wife, children and grandchildren, his extended families, myriad of friends and colleagues.
May his soul rest in perpetual peace and rise in glory.