A diaspora organization connecting Barbados communities in Southern California is pushing for simplified, more direct donation channels to support educational institutions across Barbados, citing persistent logistical barriers that have derailed past efforts to deliver critical school supplies. The public appeal was delivered Wednesday by association president Gregory Chase during an awards celebration at St Philip Primary School, located in Barbados’ Church Village. The event honored high-achieving students and educators after the school posted standout results in the national Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination, with awards distributed by Selwyn Holder, a successful local businessman and St Philip Primary alumnus.
Chase opened his remarks by outlining the association’s longstanding commitment to supporting St Philip Primary, stretching back several years. In their earliest outreach, the group set out to ship classroom supplies from the U.S. to the island campus, but unforeseen shipping delays, customs bottlenecks, and prohibitive costs made the model unworkable. “First, we tried providing supplies, and the logistics became prohibitive,” Chase explained. Faced with these barriers, the organization pivoted its strategy, opting to partner with the local Lions Club to fund the school’s Great Start breakfast programme – a shift that has delivered consistent, tangible results for students.
For association members, the breakfast initiative has emerged as a cornerstone of the group’s charitable mission. “Of all the things that we do in the Barbados Association of Southern California, it is this programme that gets our membership most animated, and I thank them for their support,” Chase said. He added that the organization centers its humanitarian and educational outreach on two key groups: people living with disabilities, and young people with ambitious goals who are working to lift their local communities. The association also stands ready to collaborate with any individual or local group working to drive positive, sustainable change across the island, he noted.
Addressing the gathered students, Chase emphasized the enduring support the Barbadian diaspora in the U.S. offers to the next generation of island leaders. “I want to tell you, you have friends in America. You have friends in Washington, DC. You have friends in Southern California. And I hope that you make use of those friendships,” he said. He praised school leaders including Mrs Bhamjee and Mrs Daniel for their work, noting that the school’s strong recent exam results prove the ongoing cross-border support is already delivering meaningful outcomes. Chase also encouraged students to stay dedicated to their long-term goals, even when faced with unexpected obstacles.
During his speech, Chase paid special tribute to Holder, the event’s award presenter and St Philip Primary graduate, praising him for leveraging his business success to give back to his alma mater and the broader community. Calling Holder a “son of this soil and a product of this school,” Chase noted that the alumnus has remained deeply committed to supporting the campus that launched his career. “He has not held back from his success as a businessman,” Chase said. “I urge you to embrace his charity work, and to take him seriously and to honour his contribution, because really and truly, he is a rock star.”