LIONEL BLACKMAN, president of the Bajan/American Domino League of New York, has been honoured by the Barbados Tourism Authority.Blackman, who has been returning to Barbados for the past 25 years in succession, prides himself on bringing thousands of first-time visitors from the United States to his homeland.The 56-year-old Blackman, who is a former member of the United States Army and a Federal Officer, recently came back to Barbados and was accompanied by 105 new visitors who were won over by his description of the beauty of Barbados.For the past five years, Blackman has been locked in reciprocal tours and battles with the local domino fraternity in four-hand and three-hand competitions. The Bajan/Americans favour the three-hand which they have won a number of times, but according to Blackman, “coming home and renewing the friendships which we have developed over the years is more important than winning the dominoes”.The New York contingent was met at the airport by Sharon Hunte, coordinator of the tournament and second vice-president of the local dominoes association as well as other members of the local group who showed that they were greeting close friends and not rival competitors.Blackman, who originally came from Bank Hall, spends most of his time in Martinique Road where the dominoes are played and where he has created a cadre of new and lasting friendships.The competition will end on Tuesday at the Green Floor Bar in The Ivy. (KB)
