AROUND FIFTEEN small business owners were able to capitalise on Carnival Valor’s call to the Bridgetown Port Wednesday, when the Urban Development Commission hosted an exhibition day on the Swing Bridge.
?Chairman of the activities committee at the UDC, Leon Chase told the WEEKEND NATION the date was carefully chosen to give budding entrepreneurs more exposure. Based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Carnival Valor has a capacity of just under 3 000 passengers.
Handmade jewellery, bags, natural balms and wine as well as plants and herbs were some of the items on the bridge. Miracle Balm Products attracted a healthy share of attention, with inventor Carlos Jones providing free massages using his products.
Many of the exhibitors were members of the Women Entrepreneurs of Barbados (WEB). This was the second annual staging of the exhibition on the Swing Bridge, and Chase reported a good response.
He added the UDC activities committee planned to host other events to raise the profile of small business owners.
“There were a lot of people who lost their jobs and we will try to be encouraging them to start their own businesses, so we want to provide opportunities for them,” Chase said. (LW)