Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society James Paul is encouraging parents to make it their responsibility to ensure their children attend Agrofest.
This statement comes against the background of a clash between mid-term break for students and the dates for Agrofest slated to start February 21 and end on February 23.
This could potentially affect the attendance of students as traditionally they attended Agrofest with their schools on the Friday, which was the opening day.
Speaking to a gathering of sponsors and exhibitors during the site visit at Queen’s Park yesterday, Paul said the responsibility to educate children did not fall upon teachers and the school alone but parents as well.
“If teachers are not bringing them, it doesn’t mean that your child can’t be exposed to something that is very positive for them and help enhance Barbados as it goes into the future,” he said.
However, Paul said there were some schools where teachers remained committed to ensuring students still attended, for which he was grateful.
He noted that many of the exhibitors, especially those in the livestock category, were children who got their start in
school. He added that the connection worked to help people understand the importance of the agricultural sector and the contributions they can make.
“It is about nation building. We talk about We Gatherin’, let us gather at Queen’s Park to nation build,” he said.
Though there were some challenges this year with the development of the annual agricultural festival, preparations are underway for Agrofest, under the theme Saving The Future Through Agriculture: An Explosion Of Barbados’ Agriculture, Colour And Culture. Last year the event had about 250 participants. This year it increased to around 300.
Paul said he hoped the event would be one that resonated with Barbadians 100 years from now. (AJ)
