By Sheena Forde-Craigg
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (BGIS) – Barbados is being described as one of the best black-run societies in the world and a small nation that is becoming a global powerhouse.
Barbados’ ambassador to the United States and the Organisation of American States, Noel Lynch, disclosed that this view was shared with him during the ‘Barbados Comes to Atlanta’ (BCTA) Business Forum, this morning at the Clayton County International Park, Atlanta, Georgia.
He noted that this perspective was discussed during his many engagements with global commentators in his job as ambassador, which he described as “the best job in the world,” because “every day I get to articulate the vision of Mia Amor Mottley for the development of a small nation that’s becoming a global powerhouse.”
“Barbados, like all the other countries has gone through some difficult times, but we are recovering and we’re recovering maybe better than people didn’t even envision that we would have recovered […]. And in a country that is moving ahead and doing the kind of stuff that we’re doing, putting Barbados on the map, we’re showing that a small developing state can be a global powerhouse,” ambassador Lynch stated.
He cited the Bridgetown Initiative as one example as to why Barbados was being viewed as a global powerhouse. Lynch explained to those present, that the initiative is essentially a new deal to restructure the global financial architecture that would not only help Barbados but would also help all other small developing countries like Barbados, to do what is necessary to maintain, sustain and build resilience for future generations.
Ambassador Lynch also told the audience that Barbados is seeking to strengthen its South-South cooperation and in so doing has opened missions in Africa. “We are looking to South-South cooperation. We are not only looking to the north. Therefore, this country, I believe, is now creating the platform for which your children and your grandchildren are going to benefit,” he added.
In his address, scientist and Aerospace Technology expert Dr William Downes spoke about his vision of opening the Barbados Aeronautical Space Agency, which, if successful, would see Barbados having the first space agency in the Caribbean. This vision includes the creation of jobs and training of Barbadians in the field of aeronautics.
“The main point is to develop a type of research agency where we can put satellites into space for Barbados and for the Caribbean, do research with the weather balloons, and have other agencies around the world come [and] use our platform and they pay us,” he explained.
Meanwhile, co-founder and oresident of The DNA Brand Group of Companies, Akilah Love spoke about how she came to develop DNA Flavour, an Atlanta-based company, which sells an array of pepper sauces and household condiments inspired by her grandfather Luther Miller of Miller Products.
In addition, Invest Barbados consultant, David Rice noted that Invest Barbados’ mission was to seek, secure and support sustainable investments that enhanced the economic and social development of Barbados, and he further explained why Barbados is a good country for investment opportunities.
Some of the local businesses and products on display at the Business Forum included Try It, Windmill, Delish, Wibisco, Caribbean Confection Co. Ltd., and DNA Flavour.
