CDD’s Community Impact Programme Showcases Its Entrepreneurs
October 9, 2025
The Community Development Department joined dozens of other government departments and private sector entities to bring the Hoyte’s Village Playing Field in St James alive on September 27th.
Saturday was a day filled with music, fun, food, drink, entertainment and sales for small businesses at the Emerging Entrepreneurs Trade Fair and Business Expo hosted by the Barbados Trust Fund during the St. James ‘We Gatherin’ initiative.
From early in the morning Acting Chief Community Development Officer, John Hollingsworth and his team, could be seen reaching out to Barbadians to view and support the participants from their Community Impact Programme (CIP). The emerging entrepreneurs are graduates of the CDD’s skills-based CIP programme which operates across Barbados at community and resource centres. Products and services presented included art, soap making, cocktails and condiments, skin care, jewelry and craft, mixology, make-up and massages. Patrons were quite impressed with the quality of services and products, and some also took the opportunity to register for courses and gain information on the various CDD programmes.
The activity which went from 10am to 6pm provided a lively community atmosphere for everyone, with a deejay keeping the energy high throughout the day. The expo also featured booths by the National Insurance and Social Security Services, the Barbados Inland Revenue Department, Bim Pay among others.
Along with sales, music and networking, the event also featured a cook-off between members of parliament the Honourable Sandra Husbands, M.P., St. James South and Minister of Ministry of Education, Technology and Vocational Training, and the Honourable, Chad Blackman, M.P., St. James North and Minister of Educational Transformation. Feedback from the CIP entrepreneurs was positive and they thanked the Community Development Department for the opportunity to participate.
