Media trio to make first-ever UK trip

Media trio to make first-ever UK trip 

For the first time in several years, the British High Commission is partnering with media houses to offer upcoming journalists a press trip to London.

Barbados TODAY’s Sheria Brathwaite is among three journalists who have been selected for a one-week tour of the British capital, which will include a range of cultural, educational and diplomatic activities.

During a briefing at the British High Commission in Lower Collymore Rock on Tuesday, Deputy High Commissioner Charley Williams said the opportunity would contribute to the journalists’ professional development and give them a better understanding of the cooperation between the United Kingdom and Barbados.

She said: “We are about building media capacity in the region and worldwide so this trip fits into our work in that area. We have strong historical links and it is important that we build on those links. We work with Barbados on a wide range of issues from climate change to new technologies such as artificial intelligence. So this is about promoting people-to-people links and journalists getting the opportunity to see a modern and more diverse UK.”

Williams acknowledged that while Barbados and the British government collaborated on a plethora of successful developmental projects in the region, there were certain factors at play that affected the partnership.

She said there were negative preconceptions about Britain stunting the deepening of ties between the two nations.

“We are taking [three journalists] to see a bit of what the UK is about, a modern, diverse Britain, and challenge some of the stereotypes that hold us back. We want to advance and build out our relationship going forward and it is important to have a good understanding of what the modern UK is about so we can identify [and explore more] opportunities [together],” she said, adding that the high commission wanted journalists to take part in the trip as “journalists see [and report on] things as they really are”.

The high commissioner, herself a former sports journalist, said that the British government sponsored trips for journalists in other parts of the world but this was the first trip of this nature for Barbadians in living memory.

Tré Greaves from the Nation Newspaper and Krystal Hoyte from the Caribbean Broadcasting Company were also selected for the trip. It will be the trio’s first trip to the UK.

Williams said she wanted the journalists to get more insight into how the British and Barbadian governments closely work and engage with successful Barbadians living in the UK.

Through informed reports, she added that she wanted Barbadians to learn more about the artificial intelligence (AI) industry in the UK and the possibilities at their disposal should they be interested.

Brathwaite, 28, said it would be interesting to observe the social diversity of the United Kingdom and find out more about the trading operations between Barbados and the UK given the BREXIT situation.

Beyond Barbados’ historical export of primary products such as cotton, tobacco and sugar, she said she wanted to learn if there were opportunities for Barbados to export value-added products to the UK and if there were any trade barriers.

She added that she was also interested to see how Britain incorporated technology into its agriculture sector and learn about any agriculture-related programmes the UK and Barbados were involved in.

Greaves said his knowledge of the UK has been based on what he has read and consumed through the media or second-hand accounts from relatives and friends who lived there or visited.

The 30-year-old added that while he was a fan of several British entertainers, television shows and architecture, it would be hard to ignore the colonial ties and the impact UK visitors have on Barbados’ economy.

Hoyte, 25, said that her understanding of the UK was rooted in the perspective that Barbados was once viewed as Little England because of the island’s historic relationship with Britain. She said she wanted to find out more about the new dynamics between Barbados and Britain with Barbados becoming a republic. She said she was also interested in hearing the stories of Barbadians living in the UK and finding out more about the “love relationship” repeat UK visitors had with the island.

The journalists leave for London on Saturday.

(SZB)