BTPA donates to ‘Spirit’ Zonal shows

For a second year running, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth has been extended a helping hand by the Barbados Tourism Product Authority (BTPA), with a donation towards the 2016 Spirit of the Nation Talent Zonal shows  made on Friday.

 

The first of the shows took place last night, Chief Executive Officer of the BTPA Dr. Kerry Hall made the presentation to Minister Stephen Lashley during an event held at his offices in Haggatt Hall.

 

The donation of $5 000, in addition to a further $11 000 put up between the BTPA and her sister department, the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, are dedicated to this year’s Community Independence Programme with the second sum going specifically to the development of the Parish Independence Committee projects. During yesterday’s briefing, Minister Lashley stated that the talent competition had for years provided persons at the community level with a platform to focus their talent, most times at a very early stage. Thanking the BTPA for their donation, Lashley said that the partnership was one that came naturally as the development of local talent fell within the mandate of the authority. 

 

“They (BTPA) have an important role in building out the tourism product and ensuring that wherever possible, we can diversify the effort. I think it is a vote of confidence for the Community Independence Programme for this to happen because where we could, in terms of our efforts, connect with our young talent across our communities, what it helps us to do is give vent to their creativity and by extension, it also helps to give more colour and more definition to a wider tourism product.”