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Barbados’ Rum Hailed As Economic, Historic & Cultural Product

During the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Public Forum closing session last Friday, September 13, Barbados took the opportunity to highlight the island as the birthplace of rum and how it is an economic and cultural product for the country.

The Public Forum, which coincided with the WTO’s 30th anniversary was held in Geneva, Switzerland, under the theme “Re-globalisation: Better Trade for a Better World”.

The annual event deemed one of the WTO’s largest outreach forums attracted a diverse set of stakeholders, including government policymakers, international organisations, the business community, academia, parliamentary representatives, and civil society.

One of the highlights of the Forum was the closing session focused on “Rethinking Rum: Building Sustainable Futures for the Global Industry”, in which Barbados’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations, WTO and other International Organizations in Geneva, Matthew Wilson, participated.

Ambassador Wilson shared that Barbados is the birthplace of rum, and noted that like sugar, rum had a difficult history. He continued: “We can’t ignore that. It is wrapped up in a history of enslavement, colonialism, and exploitation. But the beautiful thing is how we, as a previously enslaved people, have taken this commodity and this industry and made it our own. Resilience is, after all, not a recent attribute for people from the Caribbean and people of African descent and indigenous communities. It is in our blood.”

The Ambassador also spoke of the intrinsic link between sugar, rum, and culture, which is one of the main motivators for the work that has been developed to have “Industrial Heritage of Barbados: The Story of Sugar and Rum” included in the tentative list of proposals put forward for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Another highlight of the Public Forum was the closing rum tasting event, which was organised by the Barbados and Guatemala Embassies and the WTO. Several countries in the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Indian Ocean showcased their rums, culture, and products.

Barbados had one of the “most in-demand stalls” at the event primarily because of the rum cocktails and showmanship of Bajan mixologist David Barker, whose participation was made possible by the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s Europe branch. The West Indies Rum & Spirits Producers Association provided the rum to the Embassy, while various ‘Bajan’ delicacies were supplied by Export Barbados.

At the event, attended by over 300 people, including the WTO Director, General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Ambassador Wilson said: “Rum is not just a drink for us in Barbados and the rest of the Caribbean. Remember that you are not just drinking a liquid. You are drinking history, culture, trade potential, and resilience.”

Rums from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mauritius, and Venezuela won in various categories in the amateur rum competition.

The WTO Public Forum, with hundreds of panels and engagement sessions, provides a unique platform for interaction among participants from around the world. Those persons get the opportunity to engage and discuss the latest developments in global trade and propose ways of enhancing the multilateral trading system, to make trade more inclusive and ensure that it benefits more people. (PR/GIS)

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SPECIAL POLLING DAY NOTICE

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FundAccess To Host Legal Clinic Workshop from May 13th

Entrepreneurs will soon get another opportunity to learn about critical legal matters that are key to the operation of their businesses.

FundAccess will be hosting The Legal Clinic Workshop, which will commence on Tuesday, May 13, and continue each Tuesday, until May 27, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The workshop will be facilitated by Attorney-at-law Ondene Kirton and participants will discuss Understanding Business Legal Structures; Contracts & Agreements; Employment Law & Compliance; and Examination of the Various Laws Relating to Small Business.

During those sessions, the participants will be exposed to sole proprietorship, partnerships, corporations – pro and cons; how to choose the right legal structure for a business; the importance of contracts in business operations; avoiding common contract pitfalls; and employee rights & employer responsibilities, among others. Some of the pieces of legislation to be examined include the Employment Rights Act and National Insurance and Social Security Act.

Interested persons may attend the workshop in person at FundAccess’ Pinfold Street, Bridgetown location, or online via the Zoom Platform. To register, click on the following link: https://bit.ly/3Fu09Jv.

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Centenarian Built On Firm Foundation Set By Grandmother

“Trust God first” is the mantra of one of Barbados’ newest centenarians, Athelstan Browne, who celebrated his 100th birthday on April 29, 2025, at his home in Montrose, Christ Church, surrounded by family and friends.

One of his specially invited guests was President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason.

Mr. Browne shared that he grew up “not knowing a mummy” as his mother passed away at age 23, when he was two years old, and his brother was only one year old.

Crediting his grandmother for his upbringing, Mr. Brown remarked: “I had a real good, good grandmother that raised two of us, and everything we learn before we went to school, she taught us.”

Pointing to a humble yet deeply religious upbringing, Mr. Browne said: “I and my brother slept on the floor. Our grandmother spread things down there, and she just put the pillow under our head.”

He recalled that they had to sing the hymn “Under the Blood” before going to bed, and first thing in the morning before they had breakfast, which usually consisted of “a cup of tea and two biscuits”. Adding that the hymn was “our song”, Mr. Browne sang the hymn from memory.

Stressing that his grandmother was a great provider, he noted: “My grandmother had land, and she would work the land…. We would eat raw potato, raw okras, (green) peas, cucumbers…. The only thing we did not eat was raw yams and eddoes.”

Mr. Browne continues to enjoy his ground provisions “with a little rice”, as he likes his rice with green peas, and if available, chicken boiled with the rice. “I am a fish man,” he remarked, eating it either fried or with a “stew sauce”.

Continuing to nurture his Christian beliefs, he joined the Mount Ararat United Holy Church (currently in Dayrell’s Road, Christ Church) in 1967, at age 33, and has continued there ever since.

Once the Superintendent of the Sunday School at the church, Mr. Browne is still instrumental in providing leadership to the youth there. “I have a crowd of young people at church that love me…especially when I have to talk to them…. It is what they should hear and what they should have,” he said.

The centenarian was raised in Montrose, Christ Church, and attended the Christ Church Boys’ School (now Milton Lynch Primary School). After leaving school, Mr. Browne initially took to agriculture but then worked cutting soft stone in two quarries in Christ Church.

In 1947, at the age of 22, he decided to join the US Farm Labour Programme and took the first Pan American Airlines flight out of Barbados. Over 10 years later, Mr. Browne returned to Barbados and married Monica Browne (deceased). Together, they built the house where he currently resides.

Returning to his roots in agriculture, the centenarian worked at the Ridge Plantation, Christ Church, until retirement. He also planted and reaped ground produce at home, as well as planted and cut canes.

Mr. Browne, who is generally in good health and has a sharp memory, still works around the home and enjoys reading, which he does without glasses. He also keeps in touch with his family in New York and North Carolina, and will do some travelling, but he is always ready to return home.

After toasting the centenarian, Her Excellency remarked: “You are in the midst of a lot of love, and I am sure you are going to enjoy the rest of your birthday. I am really happy to have met you. I am grateful for the work that you still continue to do with our young people because a lot of them lack direction, and we, nowadays, don’t take enough time to sit down and speak with them…. We don’t remind them that they are important, that they are somebody.”

Mr. Browne responded: “You got to make them understand what … the Lord expects of them… We have to acknowledge the Lord.”

Mr. Browne has two children, 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. (PR/GIS)

Caption: President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, and Barbados’ newest centenarian Athelstan Browne take a walk outside during his birthday celebrations in Montrose, Christ Church