Canadian investment shows confidence in Barbados

The Barbados Entertainment Complex (BEC) was officially opened on Wednesday in Barbados at Warrens Industrial Park and is expected to be a family fun facility for all Barbadians.

Stephen Lashley, Minister of Youth Sport and Culture, while speaking at the facility flagged this as a sign of confidence in Barbados despite the challenging economic times. “The Cultural sector will be one of the vital areas that will
transform the economy in Barbados… .”

The Barbados Entertainment Complex (BEC) is a family and group entertainment company which is owned and operated by its Canadian parent, WA Ventures & Enterprise. The BEC combines state often art technology with high energy, interactive games which focus on team building, communication and problem solving.

“The BEC includes over 8 000 square feet of wall-to-wall fun for all ages. It is a first of its kind entertainment facility that offers a premium laser tag arena, futuristic reality missions, mind-boggling adventure rooms and a top of the line table tennis lounge,” General Manager of BEC, Cherice Gibson highlighted.

Lashley affirmed, “The BEC has a lot of potential not only for Barbados, but for the growing entertainment field which offers a significant amount of potential for earnings. This investment connects with what we are focusing
on in Barbados, not just entertainment, but the wider area of the creative sector and the cultural industries.

“Barbados is poised for further diversification relating to entertainment. Some people will say beyond the beach we still need other areas of entertainment and hopefully if we get some dynamic areas and options perhaps we can save some vital foreign exchange by keeping some Barbadians here to vacation.”

He also indicated he is impressed by level of technology at the BEC and how they have showed the possibilities available when you marry entertainment with technology. He believes that it will appeal to youth, family and groups.
Lashley identified, “this is great for entertainment and beyond the realm of entertainment, there are interesting developmental components. First of all there is the development of the cultural industries; about four years ago Barbados passed into law the Cultural Industries Development Act. The creative sector offers serious diversification for the economy and the act provides incentives to transform the creative arena in to the reality of actual business ventures.

“There are concerns about the economy, but we are at a good point because a lot of our traditional thinking is being challenged and we have to change how we think about our developmental models, as we are forced to look at ways for investment and new economic activity. I believe we have a tried a tested one in the creative sector and we now see people really believing in these emerging sectors.

“We have had the drivers such as tourism and manufacturing at the apex of our economic model, but we have to look to new path ways for economies expansion and development. Our young people are driving that reality through technology and emerging industries and policy makers need to create an enabling environment…”

The Minister also noted that this entertainment complex is also good as it will get people of all ages moving and as a country with high levels of chronic disease, promoting a healthy lifestyle is important. (NB)