Minister Kellman wants free zone for Barbados
Tuesday November 15 2011 | 07:24 AM

Denis Kellman, Minister of Industry, Small Business and Rural Development is calling for more of a focus on the development of a free zone in Barbados.

Kellman, officials from the Ministry and officials from the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) toured a number of industrial estates yesterday on a familiarisation tour. He told the BIDC officials, “We have a bigger task moving forward which is focusing on a free zone in Barbados. It is long overdue and we in the Ministry are not just talking about it but working on this because of the opportunities.”

A free zone is essentially a free economic zone or free port – an area with relaxed customs, immigration, visa and taxation jurisdiction with respect to the country.

Kellman maintained, “There are some persons who may say that business development is lacking in Barbados but this tour has shown that we are doing the right things; I want to congratulate the BIDC for their work.

“We have visited some interesting projects. When we visited the Harbour Road we saw a very successful firm and there are very diverse businesses. 

“In the furniture industry, we saw many innovative ideas and persons who are keen on developing the local industry. The American University of Barbados School of Medicine is another creative project.”

Also, he indicated, “I will address the board about the maintenance of the estates and we need to make decisions if we will upgrade estates or sell them.”

On the tour, Dr. Gary Brar, Director of Admission of American University of Barbados, explained, “Students will come from the United States, Asia, Middle East and Canada to study in Barbados. We already have a lot of students asking about it and the first week of January we will have students in the campus. Barbados is a jewel of the islands. In India [we have] great medical facilities and we wanted to go to the best of the islands in this field, and we have been working with the Government here since 2009 to be able to set up a medical school here.

“We will have local and international tutors. We are also planning to expand with working with the Government of Barbados. [We are] not sure [of] the amount of students at this time because they have to access student visas in a timely manner.”

Kellman added, “It is more exposure for Barbados and we have always to be on the leading edge of education. Sometimes, we in Barbados underrate ourselves but wherever you go in the world we are held in such high esteem and we need to recognise it.”