BY SHEENA FORDE-CRAIGG | OCT 18, 2022
Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina, John J. Tecklenburg; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Dr. The Most Honourable Jerome Walcott; and Honorary Consul for Barbados in South Carolina, Rhoda Green, pose for a photograph following their courtesy call yesterday. (S. Forde-Craigg/BGIS)
Reflections on the Barbados-South Carolina relationship took centre stage on Monday when Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina, John J. Tecklenburg paid a courtesy call on Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Dr. The Most Honourable Jerome Walcott, at the Ministry’s Culloden Road, St. Michael office.
Minister Walcott commended the Mayor for lending his support to, and leading the Charleston delegation of business and cultural representatives to Barbados on a trip which coincided with the 25th anniversary of the twinning of the cities of Charleston, South Carolina and Speightstown.
He also indicated the country’s desire to continue building upon the historical foundation between Barbados and Charleston.
Mayor Tecklenburg, who was accompanied by Honorary Consul for Barbados in South Carolina, Rhoda Green, highlighted that it was through Honorary Consul Green, that he had been made aware of the historical ties between Barbados and Charleston, and the fact that Barbadians from Speightstown first settled in Charleston and the wider Carolinas in the 1670s.
The Mayor, pointing out that it was one thing to hear about a country but another to visit and experience it, acknowledged that he had enjoyed a wonderful time during his first trip and it was especially enjoyable when he visited Speightstown, the East Coast and Newton Burial Ground.
The two officials also discussed possible areas of cooperation and mutual interest including architecture restoration; the agritech sector with a focus on hemp; global life sciences; biotech; tourism; software technology; festivals and an exchange of culture and culinary initiatives.
Also present at the courtesy call were: Minister of State in Foreign Trade and Business, Sandra Husbands; Permanent Secretary, Simone Rudder; Consul General of Barbados in Miami, Rudy Grant, Consul in the Consulate General of Barbados in Miami, Marvin Brathwaite; Senior Foreign Service Officer, Euclid Goodman; Foreign Service Officers, Deniece Sandiford and Dwayne Green.
