US actress visits expo

ACTRESS VANESSA WILLIAMS, who toured the exhibition on Thursday, showing she knows a thing or two about playing road tennis. (Nigel Browne)

Sat, August 11, 2012 - 12:03 AM

THE SECOND DIASPORA CONFERENCE at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Two Mile Hill, St Michael, was a diverse affair that showcased many different aspects of Barbadian goods and services.

The National Sports Council displayed road tennis; various businesses showcased their products such as LIME, Brancker’s, Wibisco, Roberts Manufacturing and Harwood Woodworks; chef Edey gave food demonstrations; and there were lectures and more.

Foreign service officer with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, David Gibbs, said it was his ministry which hosted the biennial conference, entitled Barbados Network Consultation 2012. He said that in addition to the around 50 exhibitors there was a focus on marketing Barbados to the diaspora and encouraging representatives form places such as Cuba, Canada, United States and Panama to invest in the island.

Today featured presentations from the Barbados Tourism Authority’s director of marketing Averil Byer and non-governmental organizations management consultant Shelly Weir, as well as sessions dealing with tracing ancestry, speed networking and cooking.

It also featured a visit from American actress Vanessa Williams, who toured the exhibition. Local film-maker Claire Ince said financing was being sought for the shooting next year of a film called Once Upon This Aisle, which would star Williams and another American actress Melinda Williams. (CA)