Honoring Innovation and History: Highlights from the SBA Barbados Awards Dinner & Ceremony

The Small Business Association (SBA) of Barbados held its highly anticipated Awards Dinner and Ceremony, bringing together entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and champions of the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector for an inspiring evening of recognition and vision.

Among the standout moments of the evening, Elaine’s Caribbean Crochet was granted the prestigious Sandra Husbands Award. This special accolade honors long-standing members who reflect dedication and longevity within the business community. Named in honor of Minister Sandra Husbands—celebrating her influential six-year tenure as President of the SBA, during which she drove both the association and its members forward on a national stage—the award marks a major milestone for Elaine’s Caribbean Crochet.

Unlocking the Future Through History: Presentation by Dr. Henderson Carter

A central highlight of the night was a keynote address by Dr. Henderson Carter, Senior Lecturer in History and Head of the Department of History and Philosophy at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus.

Dr. Carter emphasized that understanding historical patterns, successes, and failures allows modern businesses to plan strategically for the future. He highlighted three foundational Barbadian entrepreneurs who demonstrated resilience and portfolio diversification:

Adam Straw-Waterman: An apprentice stone mason who helped rebuild the St. John Parish Church after the 1831 hurricane, built sugar plantation infrastructure at Wakefield, and constructed the Parliament buildings in the 1870s. He diversified his assets into land ownership (Greens), sugarcane farming, serving as a vestryman, and acting as overseer of the poor—leaving physical monuments that perpetuate his legacy.
Irma Rock (1910–1980): Starting with a village grocery store, Rock went on to manage a retail store for James A. Tudor, build the Rocklyn Bus Service with 40 buses, and diversify into gas stations, mechanics, sugar planting, quarrying, general retail, funeral homes (Hinkson Funeral Home), housing, and the Senate—eventually being featured in Ebony magazine in 1975.
Miller Austin: A skilled blacksmith who expanded into estate ownership (East Malt, Vaughns, and a major 1930 bid for the 391-acre Malvern estate), bridge building, money lending, and speculation.

Dr. Carter urged the audience to capture and record the legacy of early village shops, itinerant traders, seamstresses, tailors, and small farmers:

“Let us capture their contribution. We need to record this history in books, magazines, and children’s literature—celebrating figures like Leo Leacock, who rescued the country during a cement crisis, and James A. Tudor, who operated over 80 shops. It is time to forget the ‘crab-in-a-barrel’ mentality and move forward together.”

Strategic Roadmap for the Business Association

To build sustainable capital and enterprise moving forward, Dr. Carter outlined actionable steps:

Sector-Specific Forums: Establish recurring platforms for farmers, manufacturers, fishermen, poultry producers, pork producers, and shopkeepers.
Beyond Production to Marketing: Focus on comprehensive marketing strategies, active on a regular basis rather than once a year.
Structured Apprenticeships: Implement formal systems to transition school leavers into specialized trades and enterprise.
Knowledge Economy & Packaging: Package and monetize specialized services—from professional consulting to structured knowledge products for taxi operators and tour guides.

2026 SBA Award Winners & Honorees

Special & Leadership Awards

Wendell Kellman Award: Dr. Henderson Carter
Sandra Husbands Award: Elaine’s Caribbean Crochet
Founding President Watson Award: Wendell Clarke
Chairman’s Award: Dr. Andrea Taylor

Sector & Category Awards

COSCAP Creative Industries Champion Award: Kirk & Kerri Birch
Digital Disruptor Award: The Contact Hub (Carlene Wiltshire)
Rising Star Award: Milo’s Cocktails
Green Pioneer Champion Award: Caribbean E-Waste Collection Services
Outstanding Female Entrepreneur Award: Beyond Sushi Inc.
Business Support Organisation (Community Wealth Builder): Fund Access
Inclusive Business Leadership Award: Lorde Enterprises
Small Business of the Year Award: Beyond Sushi Inc.