Barbados is seeking to leverage its historical ties with the people of Charleston, South Carolina, because it seeks to deepen relations.
Acting Prime Minister, Santia Bradshaw, expressed this at a reception at Ilaro Court on Thursday, where a delegation led by the Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina, John J Tecklenburg, was welcomed to the island.
“Today, we proceed to look towards the longer term, leveraging our shared heritage as a springboard for exploration into the myriad opportunities for collaboration that exists between us. Your very presence here… heralds a way forward for ever-strengthening ties between us.
“Barbados looks forward to broadening the scope of that relationship with Charleston beyond mere cultural heritage because there may be so rather more; cultural heritage may be very powerful, but we imagine that we may also expand into unexplored areas of mutual interests,” Bradshaw stated.
The acting Prime Minister expressed the hope that the visit wouldn’t only open the door for continued cooperation in the realm of culture but in addition in tourism, sustainable development, global life sciences, technology and education.
Mayor Tecklenburg, in his remarks, emphasised that he, together with the delegation was “excited to be in Barbados and it looks like we’ve come back from whence we got here”. He noted that the town of Charleston was founded by Barbadians, and in consequence had quite a bit in common, notably food, culture and architecture.
Major Tecklenburg also identified that he envisioned a ravishing future and relationship between his city and Barbados and pledged “we’re going to maintain this relationship growing and alive”.
Each officials thanked those that organised the trip for the roughly 50 delegates from the business and cultural community of Charleston, South Carolina.
The trip and its itinerary were organised by Consul General in Miami, Rudy Grant, and the staff of the consulate in association with the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.; the Division of Culture within the Prime Minister’s Office; Export Barbados; Invest Barbados; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and the St. Peter Organising Committee, in addition to Honorary Consul for Barbados in South Carolina, Rhoda Green.
The delegation arrived on October 12, and will likely be on the island until October 19. While here the delegates will engage in business meetings, roundtable discussions, visits to historic sites, culinary and cultural events. The visit coincides with the twenty fifth anniversary of the twinning of the cities of Charleston, South Carolina and Speightstown.
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