Barbados-Liberia connection

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Barbados has been told there is growing interest among Liberians to learn more about their Barbadian roots.

Retired Liberian Ambassador Lorenzo Witherspoon, who has written extensively about the Barbados-Liberia connection, revealed during a courtesy call to Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley there were already initiatives taking shape to facilitate visits.

Witherspoon, the great-great-grandson of John Albert Porte, who migrated from Barbados to Liberia in the mid-1860s, told the Barbados delegation the warmth of Barbadians and the many similarities with Liberia made him feel at home.

Prime Minister Mottley assured Witherspoon the resources of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Incorporated would be made available to assist in making these visits a reality, as well as facilitating Barbadians who wish to make the connection.

Barbados was also commended for its maintenance of the world’s second-largest archive of slavery-era records, second only to the United Kingdom’s.

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