A delegation of 14 people from the Barbados Sea Cadets Corps, including 11 young cadets, one commissioned officer, and two support staff, has departed from Grantley Adams International Airport for Hong Kong to take part in a 10-day international camp hosted by the International Sea Cadet Association. This gathering will bring together youth maritime training groups from across Asia, Africa, and other global regions, offering a unique platform for joint skill training and cross-cultural connection.
In a pre-departure briefing to local media, Coast Guard Lieutenant Jerome Belle, the contingent’s lead, outlined the dual mission of the trip: to complete collaborative maritime training exercises with participating cadet teams from South Korea, South Africa, and host Hong Kong, and to serve as cultural ambassadors for the Caribbean island nation. “Over the 10-day program, our cadets will not only build their seamanship skills alongside international peers, but also take part in dedicated cultural exchange activities,” Belle explained. “They will get to experience the distinctive local cuisine of Hong Kong, while also sharing the flavors, long history, and vibrant traditions of Barbados with young people from around the world.”
As part of the International Sea Cadet Association’s annual global exchange initiative, the camp is designed to foster cross-border friendship and broaden young people’s global perspectives, giving participants the rare chance to connect with peers outside their home region and learn about daily life in other nations. For the cadets, the trip marks an exciting milestone filled with anticipation.
Petty Officer Khalil Barrow shared his excitement ahead of the flight, noting that cultural exchange and new connections top his list of anticipated experiences. “I’m most looking forward to meeting new people from not just Hong Kong, but all the other countries joining the camp,” Barrow said. “We’re going to take part in open forums and collaborative activities, where we can share our own perspectives and learn from theirs too. It’s not just about training—it’s about building lasting friendships and helping other people understand what makes Barbados special.”
For Leading Seaman Kris-Elle Agard Jasper, the trip offers a chance to step outside her culinary comfort zone. A self-described picky eater who usually sticks to familiar local foods, Jasper said she is ready to embrace the culinary side of the adventure. “My mom kept telling me that when you go to a new country, you have to try new things,” she said with a smile. “I’m actually looking forward to exploring all the different cuisines I’ll get to try over these 10 days, even if it’s a little outside my usual.”
The Barbados delegation is scheduled to wrap up their participation in the camp and return home on August 17, bringing back new skills, global connections, and cross-cultural insights to share with their local Sea Cadets community.