GUYANA won three of the top awards at last weekend’s prestigious Caribbean Gift and Craft Show (CGCS) held in Barbados.

According to a report from the Guyana Consulate in Barbados, besides benefitting from the exposure and doing brisk business, the close to 40 local craftspeople who participated in the three-day event were also able to share ideas and compare techniques with their colleagues from within and outside of the region, and to make contact with prospective buyers.

The Guyana Office for Investment (GO-INVEST), which reportedly “has consistently assisted Guyanese crafts-persons over the years to attend not only CGCS but other get-togethers such as the BMEX show in Barbados,” copped the award for Outstanding Organising Entity, while the prize for Best Hand-crafted Design went to ‘Image of Likeness Art Gallery’, whose fine pottery drew many ‘Bajans’ to its booth, and whose manager, Mr. Trevor Alfred, was there in person to attend to patrons and to respond to any question they may have had.

The prize for Best Design in Ceramics went to Rainforest Pottery, headed by Nicholas Young, the current President of the Guyana Arts and Crafts Producers

Association (GACPA), who was also at the show, working behind the scenes to ensure everything went smoothly.

Reports are that some of the Guyanese participants were a bit worried when the crowds didn’t come out in the initial hours as expected to the venue, the Sherbourne Convention Centre, which is about half an hour’s drive outside the capital Bridgetown. Some felt the show should have been nearer the tourist hotels and where there would be more passers-by.

However, despite the rainy weekend in the island, the crowds did pick up late on Saturday and on Sunday.

The Show, the 15th to date, was officially declared open by Barbados Prime Minister, Mr. David Thompson, who pointed out that the annual exercise, which is held in a different regional venue each year, is a significant one for regional small state economies, in that the craft and gift sector offers a niche market, which not only provides jobs but is also linked to an assertion of cultural identities.

In an interview with the Guyana Consulate in Barbados, Philip Williams, the Executive Director of the Caribbean Development Agency, the Barbados-based regional body which offers assistance to regional exporters and sponsors the CGCS, said he was pleased with the participation of the Guyanese contingent as with others. There were 265 participants from 19 countries altogether.

Williams said that the Sherbourne Centre was the most suitable venue, since not only is it fully air-conditioned, but it also has the space to accommodate the exhibits, and is fairly accessible by public and private transit systems.

The Consulate also spoke to Nicholas Young of the GACPA who thanked the organisers, including the hard-working staff from entities such as Caribbean Export, and sponsors. The main sponsor was First Caribbean International Bank with assistance from the Caribbean Development Bank.

In addition to GO-INVEST’s involvement, the GACPA also played an integral role in ensuring that all went well with another successful Guyanese participation at a regional trade show. Its Vice-President, Shefetah Tzedeq, was also at the Show, exhibiting the works of his firm, De Kulture Embassez.