Association aims to forge greater ties between Barbados/China

Relations between Barbados and China are expected to be further enhanced with the formation of an Association for Barbados–China Friendship (ABCF).

The Association is headed by ex-Central Bank of Barbados Governor, Dr. Delisle Worrell. He told a recent function at the Pomarine Hotel that a group of Barbadians who see a promising future in deepening person-to-person relationships and understanding between the two countries and Caribbean people, have come together to form the association.

“Our group includes Dr. Chelston Brathwaite – Barbados’ second Ambassador to Beijing – his wife Rosanna, along with Barbadians who have lived or studied in China, fluent Chinese speakers, people who do business with China, visitors to China, and persons who seek to know more about the world’s second largest economy,” said Dr. Worrell.

Dr. Worrell recalled that when he served as Governor, the Bank in 2015 co-sponsored the first Fish and Dragon Festival, along with the Chinese Embassy in Barbados, to celebrate the Chinese New Year. “It was a cultural vehicle for exchanges between Barbados and China, and a window for Barbadians into Chinese society,” said Dr. Worrell.

The festival has been celebrated every year since and in subsequent years there has been coverage by China’s TV and newspapers, affording Chinese a glimpse of Barbados.

The Association will be officially launched on May 23, this year. On that occasion the ABCF will be releasing its first magazine, titled “Exchange”. Guo Pei, the Chinese designer of Barbados’ international songbird Rihanna’s world famous golden dress for the 2015 Met Gala, will be featured in the magazine. Other highlights will include the Chinese community in Barbados, the challenges of doing business with China, budget travel to that country and the experiences of Barbadians who lived and worked there.

Dr. Worrell also said that the Association plans to host two major showcases each year. September 29 is the tentative date for a travel exposition featuring services for visitors to China, and a Chinese food and exposition is tentatively slated for November 21. “Beginning next year, the association hopes to arrange an annual tour to China,” he said, while adding that future showcases might include topics such as Chinese medicine, doing business with China, study in China and online resources.

At the function the Association, which is a Silver Sponsor of the Ooutraje Kadooment Band’s 2019 presentation, made a donation to a representative of the Band.