Belizeans return from trade fair, hurricane
Today, a group of twenty Belizean businesspersons returned to the country after attending the nineteenth Havana International Trade Fair in Cuba. But this year the group got more than they bargained for, as they were greeted by a category four hurricane named Michelle. Derek Nisbet, Investment Officer for BELTRAIDE, says despite the fact the show had to close earlier than expected, he believes the event was a success. Nisbet also spoke about how the Belizean delegation weathered the storm.
Derek Nisbet, Investment Officer, BELTRAIDE
“Well basically, the purpose of us attending the show was for us to take different products that we are producing in Belize. We took with us items from Bowen and Bowen, the Belikin part of their company. We also took some products from Travellers Liquors, Advance Advertising, Mayan King, New River Enterprise, Belize Chemical Specialities. And we had other items like arts and crafts that we got from the Belize Chamber of Commerce and also we got some ceramics from Iguana Jack, these people out of San Pedro that does ceramic.”
Jacqueline Woods
“In all, how many business people went on this trip?”
Derek Nisbet
“We had eighteen business people, it was a total of twenty-three, four of them were the ministerial delegation. The ministerial part of the delegation was headed by the Deputy Prime Minister, John Briceño. We had Ambassador Eamon Courtenay and CEO Cresencio Sosa as well with us.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Did the threat of Hurricane Michelle affect the outcome of the show?”
Derek Nisbet
“No, I wouldn’t say that it affect the show, but on the last two days we had to close early because it started to affect Havana from Friday around midday. We started having a lot of wind, I estimate around forty miles and hour, and from then warnings were up in Cuba and people had started to close their booths and they started their evacuation process.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Obviously you guys didn’t go there to prepare for a hurricane, you went there for the trade show, so when it became evident that Hurricane Michelle would affect Cuba, what did you guys do to protect yourselves?”
Derek Nisbet
“We didn’t have to do that much because we were staying in a very, I would say, hurricane proof resort, which called Palco, which was more or less far from the sea. I would say we were very safe there, except there was a lot of glass, the place had a lot of glass windows, but basically the Belizean delegation got together and picked on the leeward side of the building where no wind was blowing and we sat in an area for some twelve hours until the wind and rain had stopped, then we realised that the hurricane had passed.”
The group, delayed for two days, returned to the country today on a chartered flight from Havana.
