The Fish and Dragon Festival Strengthens the Bond Between Barbados and China

Zăoshàng hăo. Good morning ladies and gentlemen.

The Central Bank of Barbados is delighted to partner with the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Barbados to host the 6th edition of the Fish and Dragon Festival.

This festival celebrates the Chinese New Year which this year occurs on Saturday, January 25. 

The Bank welcomed the idea to join with the Embassy and the Chinese living in Barbados, to mark the Chinese New Year with a cultural exposition.

This exposition, as the name “Fish and Dragon” denotes, features a fusion of Chinese and Barbadian culture: food, art, song, and dance.

Over the years, the sheer magnificence of the Chinese artistes has left thousands of patrons spellbound, and our local performers have thrilled audiences.

I thank the organising teams for conceptualising and executing a high-quality festival throughout the lifespan of the event.

Barbados has fostered a rich and mutually beneficial bilateral relationship with China.

We see the collaboration through this festival strengthening the friendship, opening connections, and building bridges as Barbados looks to attract new investment and spur economic growth.

Fish and Dragon offers several benefits.

The festival exposes Barbadians to the rich Chinese culture: its food, its art, medicine, language, and people. It also provides a platform for our artistes to perform alongside the best from China. And it presents an opportunity for the two countries to come together, exchange ideas, and learn from and about each other.

We at the Bank have benefitted from the partnership in a tangible way. My colleagues and I have studied Mandarin through the Confucius Institute, which is located at the UWI (University of the West Indies) Cave Hill Campus, and others have attended a training course in China. We are currently exploring more training opportunities in China for our employees.

We have sponsored this festival for all six years of its existence, and we are pleased with the returns. We now better understand the Chinese people and culture.

I encourage all Barbadians to join us at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium on Saturday, January 18 starting at 5:00 p.m. for the Fish and Dragon Festival, where they will see the Jilin troupe perform along with martial arts displays and performances by local acts including the Tuk Band, the Arch Hall Folk Ensemble.

On behalf of the Governor and the Central Bank, I extend a happy New Year to the people of China.

Xīannián Kuàilè. Xièxie. Happy New Year. Thank you.