Last Friday, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor declared the day "Barranquilla, Colombia Day" to celebrate the 58th anniversary of Tampa's partnership with the Colombian city. This longstanding Sister City relationship, established in 1966, is Tampa's oldest international bond. The celebration focused on strengthening ties between the two cities, as per the City of Tampa's official website.
Mayor Castor, joined by delegates from Barranquilla and Consul General César Felipe González Hernández, stated, "Our partnership today is about building bridges, not just between governments, but between communities, businesses, and individuals – whether it’s through trade, cultural exchanges, or education." The event highlighted their shared economic and cultural vibrancy, according to the City of Tampa.
Castor praised former Mayor Bob Buckhorn’s 2012 visit to Barranquilla and expressed a desire to visit herself. She concluded, "Thank you for the friendship, cultural connections, and continued bond that you’re helping to keep alive between our two cities," and hopes to make the trip before her term ends, as mentioned in the City of Tampa's news release.
