Marcus Garvey Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition Launched |

By Julie Carrington, GIS 

Individuals in the cultural and creative sectors are urged to submit their best creative business ideas for a chance to win a grand prize of $30,000 and access to business mentorship in the Marcus Garvey Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition.

The contest was officially launched during a press conference yesterday in the CARICOM Conference Room, Sky Mall, Haggatt Hall, by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Culture, Senator Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight.

Senator Munro-Knight stated that the contest can be seen as a vehicle to create more innovative black-owned businesses, to expand the island’s orange economy.

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She added that the competition would be “even bigger than last year’s event and would involve a People’s Choice component, where members of the public will have their say on who would emerge victorious.

The deadline for submitting entries is Thursday, July 17.

“We had promised, I think, it was last year when we launched the Season of Emancipation, that we would make this event even bigger, and this is part of our overall thrust for the Season of Emancipation on a whole…. More importantly, based on the feedback that we were getting from the public, we ensured that there were activities that would have greater involvement from communities, from people themselves,” the Minister stated.

Dr. Munro-Knight also expressed pleasure at the increase in the number of entries and the “innovation within the entries” submitted by contestants since the competition started in 2023.

The Minister encouraged more private sector entities to support the competition, which, she said, is important for nation-building and creating stronger communities.

The winner will be announced on Sunday, August 17, Marcus Garvey Day. The event will be held in the Marcus Garvey Amphitheatre, at Queen’s Park, where activities will commence from 4:30 p.m.

julie.carrington@barbados.gov.bb

  Marcus Garvey Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Culture, Season of Emancipation, Senator Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight