Organisers of Girlfriends Expo yesterday issued an apology after a scuffle marred the event on Sunday at Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle Resort in St Philip.
Two widely-circulated videos showed a clash involving kicks and punches, and fighting across the floor amid efforts to separate the warring parties.
In one clip, a woman is seen lying on the floor in the clutches of another attacking her. After the two were separated, the woman on the floor stood up to reveal her face covered in blood.
The two-day expo saw scores of patrons flocking to experience this year’s casino-inspired Monte Carlo theme. In a statement issued on its official website, organisers apologised to patrons, vendors, sponsors and supporters who were affected and disturbed by the incident.
“For 17 years, Girlfriends Expo has proudly served as a safe, inclusive space dedicated to empowering, educating and entertaining women in a fun-loving and supportive environment. Throughout our history, the event has been incident-free, and the safety and well-being of our patrons, vendors, partners and staff have always been our highest priority.
“We regret to confirm that an isolated incident occurred at our most recent event involving a dispute among family members and friends, all of whom were women. While this situation was not reflective of the values or atmosphere we work diligently to maintain, we acknowledge the concern and inconvenience it may have caused,” the statement read.
The organisers said they will implement added security to ensure an incident-free environment in future editions.
“We understand the importance of maintaining a welcoming and secure environment, and we take this matter seriously.
“Appropriate steps were taken to address the situation promptly, and we are reviewing additional measures to further ensure the comfort and safety of everyone attending future Girlfriends Expo events,” organisers said.
