RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange began talks on bilateral cooperation Wednesday with her Barbadian counterpart, Stephen Ashley, in Brazil.

The discussions with Ashley, Barbados’ Minister of Culture, Sport and Youth, are being pursued on the fringes of the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and are focused on increased co-operation in sport and cultural activities including the development of the creative industries.

Grange told OBSERVER ONLINE Wednesday night that both countries have agreed to hosting technical workshops to fine-tune an agreement, which the ministers hope to sign before the end of the calendar year.

“It is a step in the right direction, and we are going to start with the low hanging fruits so that we get a programme going very soon,” Grange said.

She recalled that she had similar discussions with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year, which led to that country’s iconic carnival puppets, Tan Tan and Saga Boy, both of which were created by the legendary Peter Minshall, appearing in this year’s Jamaica festival/independence celebrations.

Grange, who is currently in Brazil with Jamaica’s Olympic team says that she will also be meeting with Brazil’s culture minister, Marcelo Calero, to discuss similar issues before returning home.   

Balford Henry