Delegates attending the 92nd conference of the Inter-American Children’s Institute of the Organisation of American States (IIN) were given a taste of Bajan hospitality by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart himself.
It was the first time the body was holding the prestigious meeting in the Caribbean and Stuart expressed delight that Barbados had been chosen as the venue. He used the occasion of his Ilaro Court reception for the visitors, to speak about the strides Barbados had made in ensuring that the rights of children were protected over its 50 years of Independence.
The Ilaro Court atrium was abuzz with the sound of interpreters translating for the Latin American visitors as the Prime Minister spoke and afterwards the guests were equally effusive in their expressions of appreciation of the gesture of hospitality, albeit relayed through bilingual Bajan guests such as Jacqui Wiltshire-Forde.
The IIN’s director-general Victor Giorgi and the president of the Directive Council Ricardo Gonzalez, were also among the guests as well as Barbados’ Minister of Social Care Steve Blackett, director of the Child care Board Joan Crawford and her deputy Denise Nurse. (GC)