The Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) recently met with a like minded group who were visiting from the island of Martinique. 27 members of the Association Bien Vieillir, Sainte Marie (Association for Aging Well – Sainte Marie) invited BARP representatives to afternoon tea at the Barbados Beach Village Hotel in St. James.
Bien Vieillir was founded in Sante Marie, Martinique in 2002 and their membership consists of persons 60 years and over. Apart from the fact that they have just 120 members, the main difference between the two Associations is that unlike BARP, which is totally financed by member subscriptions, Bien Vieillir receives Government funding.
requested to meet with BARP as a way of exchanging information about their respective Associations, in the hope that at some point in the future, BARP members might pay a return visit to Martinique.
As well as enjoying tea and information about each other’s Associations, BARP President, Ed Bushell and Vice President, Dame Billie Miller were introduced by the Bien Vieillir members and their chaperone Karine Slorella to a variety of products from Martinique including including Banana Liquor, Banana Essence and Banana Ketchup. A range of BARP branded merchandise was presented to the group as mementos of their Barbados visit.
Both President Bushell and Vice President Dame Billie expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to meet with fellow retirees fromMartinique and said they look forward to forming a closer relationship between the two Associations, a sentiment shared by the Bien Vieillir members.
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