Source: Caribbean Chamber of Commerce, AISBL

Pictured (l-r) are Andrew Rodgers, Counsellor, Embassy of Jamaica; Marie-Carmel Munch-Mangones, Counsellor, Embassy of Haiti; Jo Spalburg, Secretary, Caribbean Chamber of Commerce in Europe; Chef Orlando Satchell; Patrick Herman, Belgium Ambassador for The Americas & Caribbean; Simone Rudder, Ambassador of Barbados; Raphael Joseph, Ambassador of Grenada; Colin Connelly, Ambassador of Trinidad & Tobago; IvánOgando Lora, Ambassador of Dominican Republic; Cheryl Bazard, Ambassador of The Bahamas; Anthony Brand, Coverpoint RCM/Tobago Gold; and Alia Mrad, General Manager, Renaissance Brussels Hotel.

BRUSSELS (July 1, 2024) – The second edition of the Caribbean Days, organized by the Caribbean Chamber of Commerce in Europe (CCCE), was held at the Renaissance Brussels Hotel from June 17 to 24. The event brought together hundreds of members of the public and private sectors in the capital of Europe.  Caribbean Days, a series of business and cultural events, aims to raise the region’s profile by showcasing ‘The Best of the Caribbean’. The event promotes premium Caribbean products, such as rum, coffee and cocoa, as well as creative industries including art, cuisine, literature, poetry, music and dance.  The festivities began on Monday, June 17, with the Union of Belgium’s Bartenders (UBB) National Cocktail Competition. The winner, Larry Godefroid, earned the opportunity to participate in the World Championships organized by the International Bartenders Association (IBA) later this year.  The opening ceremony, officiated by Ambassador Colin Connelly of Trinidad & Tobago, featured the presence of Ambassador Patrick Herman of the Kingdom of Belgium for the Americas & Caribbean, and the CARIFORUM Group of Ambassadors at Brussels (GCAB), as the Caribbean Culinary Week kicked off.  Award-winning celebrity Chef Orlando from St. Lucia prepared a special four-course Caribbean Gourmet Menu, served at The Poet restaurant of the Renaissance Brussels all week until Sunday, June 23.  On Thursday, June 20, a special Caribbean Poetry & Cocktail Workshop honored the four Nobel Prize-winning writers from the region. Prof. Bénédicte Ledent of the University of Liège, supported by the publishing house Lansman, conducted a presentation and read excerpts from the displayed works.  On Friday, June 21, guests at The Poet enjoyed a live musical performance of Pancho’s steelpan in celebration of the Fête de la Musique. The first Caribbean Gala Dinner & Dance took place on Saturday, June 22, at the Renaissance Brussels Ballroom, offering a sultry evening with surprise entertainment for more than 100 guests. The closing party followed on Sunday, June 23, with the National Latin Dance Competition & Workshops organized by BeSalsa.be.  Throughout Caribbean Days, participants, visitors and guests of the Renaissance Brussels had the chance to participate in a unique Caribbean Competition. Prizes included a week’s holiday in the Dominican Republic, a Caribbean cruise, and free weekend tickets to Europe’s biggest Caribbean Music Festival. CCCE Secretary and Executive Director Jo Spalburg said, “We are thrilled that the Caribbean Days’ concept we created two years ago has taken ground in Brussels now, and we will continue to work relentlessly to place the series of activities on the annual calendar of events; not only in Brussels but to roll it out in other European capitals as well, as we need to raise the profile of the Caribbean and create more business opportunities for trade and investments.” CCCE is grateful for the support from Renaissance Brussels and the Sponsors of the Caribbean Days, including the House of Angostura, HTJ Tax, Orlando’s Restaurant & Bar and Tobago Gold. The following partners generously offered prizes for the Caribbean Days Competition: Air Europa, Casa de Campo Resort & Villas, Star Clippers Cruises, and Antilliaanse Feesten.

About the Caribbean Chamber of Commerce in Europe (CCCE)The Caribbean Chamber of Commerce, AISBL, was founded in November 2019 to facilitate trade between the greater Caribbean and Europe and to promote investments from Europe to the Caribbean. CCCE is a nonprofit, multilateral business services organization based at BECI, the Brussels Enterprises, Commerce & Industry, Avenue Louise 500, 1050 Ixelles, Brussels. For further information about CCCE, visitwww.caribbeanchamber.eu.  About the CARIFORUM Group of Ambassadors at Brussels (CGAB) The CGAB comprises Heads of Mission from 12 Caribbean Embassies accredited to the Kingdom of Belgium and Missions accredited to the European Union (EU) and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). They represent The Islands of the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), including Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago.  About the Renaissance Brussels and The Poet Located in the heart of the European Quarter, facing the European Parliament and close to Luxembourg train station, the Renaissance Brussels Hotel is ideally situated near all EU Institutions. A short walk from the fashionable boutiques of Avenue Louise, the hotel features 262 spacious bedrooms, a restaurant and bar (The Poet), and nine spacious meeting rooms.  The Poet Brussels captures the spirit of both the neighborhood and the city of Brussels: boldly fashionable and stylish, yet firmly dedicated to excellence in cuisine and premium offerings. The restaurant and bar provide the perfect setting for unique connections with locals and fellow globetrotters who share a vision of innovation and progressive ideas. The Poet is the ideal place to indulge and engage amidst decor inspired by the vibrant surroundings. About Chef Orlando Orlando Satchell, better known as Chef Orlando, is a British-born, internationally accredited, and award-winning celebrity chef of Jamaican-Barbadian heritage. He has made St. Lucia his home, where he owns and operates Orlando’s Restaurant & Bar at Fond Bernier in Soufrière. Chef Orlando’s culinary establishment has been accredited as one of the ‘Top Three in the Caribbean’. In 2020, he earned the prestigious title ‘Caribbean Chef of the Year’ at the Caribbean Travel Awards. He was also voted one of the best chefs in the region by Caribbean Journal in 2018 and 2019. In 2020, his restaurant was recognized by Travel & Leisure and Food & Wine readers as one of the best in the world. The recognition was part of the annual ‘World’s Best Restaurants’ list, a collaboration between Travel + Leisure and Food & Wine that celebrates eateries worldwide that capture their communities’ spirit, culture and cuisine. Chef Orlando was also honored with a Gault Millau France award in 2019 and has been recognized by Tripadvisormultiple times. He attributed much of his success to his Barbadian mother, recalling fond memories of watching her in full swing in their home kitchen and exhibiting her impeccable bargaining skills in the bustling marketplaces of London, England.

About the House of Angostura The House of Angostura, also known as Angostura Limited, is a Trinidad and Tobago company famous for producing Angostura bitters. These bitters, invented by the company’s founder, are used around the world. The company is also a distiller and the major rum producer in Trinidad and Tobago. Its parent company, CL Financial has been used as a vehicle for international expansion, acquiring distilleries in the United States, Canada, The Bahamas and Suriname.  About HTJ Tax Founded in 1980, HTJ Tax is a practice run by Derren Joseph, who completed the Comparative Tax Program at Harvard. The firm specializes in working with six-, seven- and eight-figure international entrepreneurs, expatriates and investors to legally minimize their global tax burden and protect their wealth. Their strategies include second citizenships and residencies, trusts, foundations, insurance wrappers and other offshore structures.

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