Barbados has taken a significant step toward enhancing Spanish proficiency and fostering cultural ties with Latin America through a groundbreaking initiative. Fifteen secondary school students and several teachers are preparing for a two-week language and cultural exchange in Panama, marking the start of a national campaign to embed Spanish across various sectors. This effort is part of the US$100,000 ‘Enhancing Capacities to Communicate in Spanish’ project, supported by the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) under its SOMOS (Spanish Opens More OpportunitieS) program. The initiative aims to promote bilingualism, cultural understanding, and a comprehensive national strategy for Spanish language learning. At a high-level dialogue held at Wyndham Sam Lord’s Castle, government officials agreed to establish an inter-ministerial working group to coordinate the rollout and develop a national strategy. Resources will be allocated in the 2026 national budget for staff training and public education campaigns. Finance Minister Ryan Straughn emphasized the project’s importance, stating, ‘The Ministry of Finance will fully support these initiatives for the future of Barbados.’ The exchange program will include daily Spanish lessons, cultural excursions, and innovation workshops for students, while teachers will engage in advanced professional development with Panamanian institutions. Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy, CAF’s regional manager for the Caribbean, highlighted the program’s focus on people-centred growth, noting that bilingualism opens doors to trade, tourism, and innovation. Pablo Bartol, CAF’s social and human development manager, underscored the project’s role in fostering Caribbean-Latin American integration. Additional measures include a national diagnostic study and a roadmap for policy development. Minister of Educational Transformation Chad Blackman announced plans to introduce Spanish from early childhood, emphasizing the importance of language in shaping children’s worldviews.
Spanish language drive launched as students, teachers prepare for Panama immersion
