Thirty-thousand dollars in prizes will be up for grabs for the best business pitch of new ideas for cultural products as the Prime Minister’s Office, Division of Culture, launches its Marcus Garvey Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition.
It is a collaboration with the Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES), in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment; the National Cultural Foundation; and the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).
The winner and runners-up will receive mentorship advice, training in business development, as well as advice on financial literacy and financial planning from members of the BCCI.
Interested persons must submit their name, contact details, a business brief and the type of investment required via email to seasonofemancipation@barbados.gov.bb by midnight, Thursday, August 3. Further information on the competition may be obtained by calling 535-5858 or 535-5852.
Senior Cultural Policy and Research Officer in the Division of Culture, Dr. Sheron Johnson, underscored the importance of partnerships, saying that they were critical to the delivery of the pitch and its sustainability.
Dr. Johnson stressed that the support and guidance from the partners “would pave the way for the initiative to support the development of the creative industries”.
She noted that this initiative was a signature activity within the Season of Emancipation, as it spoke to economic enfranchisement and sought to echo the vision of Marcus Garvey of self-sufficiency. She added that the objective of this pitch competition was also to boost the creative industries.
Meanwhile, acting Manager of YES, Ryan Moseley, said his organisation was pleased to partner with the Division of Culture and other developmental stakeholders in hosting the pitch competition, where young aspiring entrepreneurs will celebrate the legacy of Marcus Garvey.
Mr. Moseley noted that “Marcus Garvey was not only a political activist but was also a regional pioneer in entrepreneurship”. He expressed the view that Marcus Garvey shared a similar passion as YES to inculcate a culture of entrepreneurship among youth to reduce underemployment and promote self-employment.
He stated that Mr. Garvey advocated for black people to “patronise your own business”, while encouraging entrepreneurship among the masses and support for black-owned business.
Executive Director of the BCCI, Misha Lobban Clarke, said the Chamber was proud to be involved in a project that nurtured new entrepreneurs as they come up with ideas to stimulate economic activity.
Mrs. Lobban Clarke said: “This mentorship would be useful in helping to shape future entrepreneurs through a transfer of knowledge.
“Helping them to tackle important areas critical to young entrepreneurs, such as pit falls to avoid, legal aspects of business, and essentially understanding the culture of business, including the unwritten rules in business, among other areas. For those companies involved, it would be added value in supporting and stimulating economic activity and helping entrepreneurs to create their own space.”
She believes that it can evolve into a critical programme that supports persons coming out of the system with a theoretical knowledge of business.