and we appreciate how important it is that the award should endure. we aren ’ t going to hit the jackpot every year, but it is thrilling when we have a year like this, with 2 outstanding offerings so good the committee could not choose between them. we would like to flatter ourselves that this small contribution has helped to stimulate and sustain the creative impulse in our country. our heartiest congratulations to the winners, and our deepest thanks to all who submitted their work, on behalf of the staff, management and board of the central bank. let me also say how grateful we are to lynn nottage, whose address this evening we eagerly look forward to, for being with us on this occasion, and for her classes earlier today for aspiring writers. thank you all. bis central bankers ’ speeches

delisle worrell : the growing relationship between china and barbados welcome remarks by dr delisle worrell, governor of the central bank of barbados, at the press launch of the fish and dragon festival, bridgetown, 29 january 2015. * * * ambassador wang ke of the embassy of the people ’ s republic of china in barbados other representatives of the embassy of the people ’ s republic of china in barbados, mr. david bulbulia, deputy permanent secretary, ministry of foreign affairs, mr. kirk ottley, president of the bcfa and other representatives, festival director, ms. tonika sealy, ladies and gentleman, members of the media and press good morning. they say that the world ’ s centre of gravity has shifted to the east, suddenly and dramatically. even someone like myself, with more than a passing knowledge of chinese history, culture and policy, has been astounded by the transformation. the images i see on tv daily are of an utterly different country to the one i visited in 1980. the very fact that cctv america is available in barbados, and that its global coverage is among the most dispassionate, informative and sympathetic to my sensibilities, of any international broadcaster, is something that was inconceivable back then. most barbadians are only dimly aware of the magnitude of the change that the emergence of china implies, and the myriad ways our lives might be touched by that change. we do know of chinese interest in direct investment in the caribbean ; it is substantial, and it is to be welcomed, because it benefits both sides. barbados and the caribbean benefit from the increase of our capacity to produce goods and services, and the associated employment. china, for its part, is in search of opportunities to diversify foreign investment portfolios. i have only recently been sensitized to the extent of online commerce with china, and the inbuilt features that facilitate this commerce. the chinese embassy, the annu institute, the barbados - china friendship association and other groups and individuals have provided us with glimpses into china ’ s rich, ancient, and modernizing culture. we see more of it on cctv. the confucius institute is about to get going. we see reports of missions to china, and articles on the experiences of barbadians living there. what all this makes us realise is that a whole new world has emerged, with china as its hub, and we are feeling the swell