Barbados and Cuba are seeking to deepen their collaboration in sports and culture, with Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Stephen Lashley saying he wants to take road tennis into that Spanish-speaking nation and other regional countries.
The proposed approach was discussed today during a courtesy call on Lashley, by Cuban Ambassador Francisco Fernández Peña, at the Ministry of Culture’s Haggatt Hall, St Michael office.
Lashley noted that the National Sports Council was interested in extending its existing contract with CUBADEPORTES but would be seeking to widen cooperation to ensure greater reciprocity.
Under the current bilateral agreement, there are seven Cuban nationals contracted to provide coaching in a number of disciplines. The minister said he wanted more Barbadian coaches to share their knowledge in Cuba.
Minister of Culture and Sports Stephen Lashley.
“We would like to see Barbadian coaches teaching the indigenous sport of road tennis in Cuba. We are interested in expanding road tennis across the region,” he said, also calling for scholarships and exchanges in sports.
The minister further indicated that Barbados wanted to collaborate in the areas of heritage conservation, restoration techniques, as well as cultural and technical exchanges.
Ambassador Fernández Peña agreed that the islands should enrich their relationship, and extended an invitation to Barbados to showcase its cultural heritage at an upcoming festival.
“We would like to develop a stronger and holistic relationship that could take both countries to the next level,” Lashley said.
Barbados and the Republic of Cuba established diplomatic relations in December 1972.