BAS CEO thanks Cave Shepherd for its continued support of Agrofest

The island’s biggest annual agricultural showcase is less than a week away and while there are a few less exhibitors in the line up, the facilitators are still anticipating a large turnout from the public.

“Things are going well as we have an experienced team, which knows what needs to be done… and we will get it done,” highlighted Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), James Paul.

Speaking to The Barbados Advocate yesterday, he stated, “What we want to do is prepare for the public when it comes as we know these persons are coming to support our local agricultural sector, to try to support local Barbadian enterprises and businesses and help us do more business in this country that will help us benefit the economy in general.”

He made the comments at Cave Shepherd’s Broad Street location, where Alison Browne-Ellis, Director of the department store’s card services presented him with a $10 000 sponsorship cheque for Agrofest.

Thanking Cave Shepherd for its continued support of the three-day festival, Paul urged corporate Barbados to get involved in such ventures, despite the financial constraints being faced.

“We are in a very tight economy where resources are scarce. I think the persons in the financial sector need to set up to the plate a bit more. The emphasis at this time in our economy cannot just be looking at your bottom line and satisfying your overseas investors. There has to be some responsibility to the local economy,” he stressed, urging others to follow the example set by Cave Shepherd.

Browne-Ellis outlined the department store would be passing on several benefits to local farmers, having signed a Memorandum of Understanding with BAS last year.

“We have a lot of incentives being coordinated for the members of the BAS. We just came out of a mix and mingle at the Radisson and we are now about to roll out a series of activities for them as well,” she said. (JMB)