Mrs. Lisa Gale, recently installed Director of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI), recently received her first official visit, from a University Professor of New York.

Political Science Professor Hiroshi Itoh of Plattsburgh University, currently on a tour of Caribbean island nations, made a visit to Barbados’ oldest private sector Organisation, the BCCI. During the visit, the Professor explained that he wanted a better understanding of Barbados’ developed stance, as compared with other Caribbean territories.

The American academic told the BCCI executive how impressed he was with the ready assistance he found everywhere on the island, and he also emphasised that Barbados is the eleventh island in the region he has visited and he has found this island to be the most courteous and developed thus far.

The Executive Director explained during the visit that Barbados’ political and economic policies have contributed to the major strides in driving the island forward, leading to a high degree of investor confidence and political stability over the years.

Mrs. Gale also credits successive Governments’ action of free and compulsory education to the age 16 and subsidized degree programmes to the consequential large pool of trained individuals in a plethora of disciplines. This, she believes will lead the country forward for years to come, especially as it relates to the world of commerce. Mrs. Gale also cited the fact that Barbados has shifted its economic dependence from a sugar-based revenue earner to one that relies heavily on tourism and to some extent financial services. She noted that the old tourism slogan of “Tourism is our business – let’s play our part,” has become deeply ingrained in the Barbadian mentality and has assisted in a growing tourism sector.

The BCCI executive head told the university professor that during her tenure as Chamber Director she wants two main goals to be realised – an increase in the range and number of products that Barbados exports to the world and a more proactive business community.