Grow, Unite, Build, Africa — GUBA diaspora awards to make historic Caribbean debut here

Barbados is to host the prestigious GUBA Awards and Trade & Investment Conference for the first time next year, marking the African diaspora event’s historic debut in the Caribbean and a new phase of Africa–Caribbean partnership, its organiser said Monday.

Founder and chair of the GUBA Foundation, Lady Dentaa Amoateng, said the decision to host the event here was both symbolic and strategic. GUBA — which stands for Grow, Unite, Build, Africa — was founded 16 years ago in the UK to celebrate African excellence and reconnect the diaspora.

The awards and conference are intended to celebrate excellence while promoting trade, culture and investment between Africa and the Caribbean.

“We are reclaiming our Atlantic destiny. We are connecting, renewing and building. It’s significant because we are one people,” she said during a visit to Shirley Chisholm Primary School.

Lady Amoateng visited the school along with Minister of Educationa; Transformation Chad Blackman as part of celebrations for World Teachers’ Day.

She noted that while millions of Africans were displaced through slavery and migration, the time had come to restore those connections.

“Even by flight, we can’t even have our own direct flight from the continent to the Caribbean. Why is that?” she asked.

To change that, GUBA has chartered a flight on November 9, bringing delegates from Ghana and Nigeria.

“It will be historical, and it’s going to break that chain of us not being able to commute and travel by air to the Caribbean,” Lady Amoateng said. “That will be the opening gate for many more flights to come.”

Amoateng said her visit to the primary school was equally important, allowing her to share her personal story and inspire students.

“Nothing is impossible… you just have to dream it,” she told the students.

(LG)