Next week, a delegation from Barbados will visit Charleston. The delegation will include the Ambassador of Barbados to the United States Selwin Hart, Barbados Tourism Product Authority CEO Dr. Kerry Hall, Historian Sir Henry Fraser, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) director Petra Roach, BTMI Business Development Officer Deborah Millington, Embassy of Barbados Officer Tricia Greaves-Staggs and mixologist Phillip Antoine.
While in Charleston, the delegation will meet with cultural, economic and civic groups including the South Carolina State Ports Authority, the Charleston County Aviation Authority, the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Gullah/Geechee representatives, Charleston Sister Cities International and the city of Charleston’ s chief resilience officer Mark Wilbert.
The City of Charleston has a unique and historical relationship with Barbados dating back to the 1670's when the Lord Proprietors of English ancestry traveled from or through Speightstown in the Parish of St. Peters, landing several months later at Albermarle Point, where they established the first Carolina colony, which later became Charlestowne.
Recognizing this special connection, on November 14, 1997, Speightstown, Barbados established and celebrated a relationship with the City of Charleston as a Twin City, and on February 24, 1998, Charleston City Council also celebrated this unique bond by entering into a “Twinning” relationship with Speightstown.
Tuesday night, the delegation will attend the Charleston City Council meeting where a resolution will be considered by council to reaffirm its relationship with the City of Speightstown, Barbados, with the sincere hope that there will continue to be a lasting friendship based on the cities’ strong, shared history, heritage and culture.
Charleston Mayor John J. Tecklenburg said, “We look forward to the upcoming visit with the Ambassador and his delegation, and to reestablishing a valued friendship to strengthen our historical and cultural ties.”