Government

V20 Finance Ministers Call For Shift From Austerity To Prosperity

Finance Ministers from the Vulnerable Twenty (V20) Group, representing 70 climate-vulnerable nations, convened their 13th Ministerial Dialogue today on the sidelines of the World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C. Ministers at the meeting issued a communique, calling for urgent financial governance reforms and far more equitable climate finance.

A V20 Communique, adopted at the meeting, endorsed initiatives and recommendations to deliver fair access to climate finance and debt solutions with relief and disaster support, while promoting resilience and sustainable development. Finance ministers at the meeting pointed out that recent climate disasters have exacerbated the debt and climate vulnerabilities of V20 nations.

The V20 Communique criticized the current financial system for “diverting crucial funds from the poorest nations to the wealthiest,” and stressed the need for better representation of climate-vulnerable economies in Bretton Woods Institutions, through more inclusive discussions and balanced governance.

Highlighting the work of the G20 Independent Expert Group (IEG), the Communique pointed to the “2023 net outflows from Emerging and Developing Countries which rose by USD 68 billion to USD 200 billion through extractions from private creditors in interest and net repayments.” This trend is forcing V20 countries to cut spending on health, education, and infrastructure.

Speaking at today’s Ministerial Dialogue, Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, Chair of the CVF-V20 Presidency, said: “The difficulty relates to scale and speed. In the absence of definitive decisions that can give us more space and time [to invest in climate and development], this is very worrying. The world is distracted by war, elections and geopolitics. That is our current reality. If I could recommend to this body a single action that would buy us more space. It would be settling a global methane agreement.”

Prime Minister Mottley added that new measures, such as a global taxation on shipping, should be used to fund adaptation needs in climate vulnerable countries, particularly coastal countries.

In addition to matters related to the impact of the climate crisis on debt and liquidity for CVF V20 members, during the two years of the Barbados presidency, Prime Minister Mottley will also focus on the impacts of climate change on human health, placing increased stress on health care systems, and the multidimensional nature of climate crisis.

Sovereign debt resolution was a core part of today’s discussions, as climate impacts exacerbate the debt crisis, further limiting the fiscal space needed to drive climate resilience investments. Finance Ministers noted “the need for the Common Framework to be overhauled to involve creditors, expand eligibility to middle-income countries and produce debt relief proportionate to climate and development investment needs.”

Significant emphasis was placed on Debt Sustainability Analyses (DSAs) that incorporate climate shocks and the full benefits of development-positive climate investments as well as climate-positive development investments.

Key Points from the V20 Communique:

The communique adopted following today’s discussions highlighted that “debt crises and climate impacts feed off each other, choking fund flows needed for resilience.” The Communique emphasized, “resolving sovereign debt must be central to any climate finance deal.”

It echoed the CVF Leaders Declaration issued during the UNGA in New York in September, which called for better representation of climate vulnerable countries in the International Monetary Fund, noting that the 15th and 16th General Review of Quotas ended without much-needed realignment.

Further highlighting “the inadequacy and inequitable structure of the Global Financial Safety Net,” the Communique called on the IMF to contribute to shock-proofing the global financial system. It also called on the IMF to launch a replenishment drive for the Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT).

The Communique emphasized the crucial role of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) to correct past shortcomings of the $100 billion target. “The NCQG must be ambitious, trackable and actionable,” the Communique stated. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Barbados’ Prime Minister and Chair of the CVF-V20 Presidency, Mia Amor Mottley, speaking at Vulnerable Twenty (V20) Group 13th Ministerial Dialogue in Washington,

Government

Mental Health Workers: Champions Of Change Across Communities

Employees of the Psychiatric Hospital have been urged to see themselves as champions of change across Barbados, to lessen the stigma of mental illness.

This message was conveyed by Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Davidson Ishmael, at the 2025 Employee Rewards and Recognition Ceremony of the Psychiatric Hospital, last Saturday, at Mahogany Ridge, Plum Tree Road, St. James.

Held under the theme Excellence in Healthcare Delivery, the event saw the Minister lauding staff, for “a tremendous job” and encouraging them to continue working to uplift their brothers and sisters, as they daily handle acute cases of mental health.

Mr. Ishmael, who stressed that many people needed an uplifting hand, given the several mental health challenges faced by society, suggested a comforting word or hug, could help bring such persons back from the precipice.

He praised the hospital’s anti-stigma campaign and emphasised it needed to be embraced to break down the mental blockades which lend to persons taking a stand-off approach to mental illness.

The Minister stated: “I want us, as champions of mental health in our country, to see ourselves as bigger than the Psychiatric Hospital and see yourselves as part of the messengers that have to go out there on a daily basis, within your various conversations, …wherever people are….

“Take a moment to encourage those who are around you to take better care of their mental health, so we can avoid, and we can pull back some of this discrimination, some of these unfortunate incidents that we are seeing in our country because we really have to do better in this country, and it begins with all of us.”

He also reminded staff that excellence in mental health required not only clinical knowledge and technical skill, but profound empathy, patience, resilience, and an unwavering belief in human dignity. And Mr. Ishmael stressed it was for this reason several of them were being honoured for consistently demonstrating this belief, not only through words but through action.

“You remind us that compassion is not just a value. It is practice. You are the reason that hope reaches the hopeless, and healing touches the broken,” he stated.

Several staffers received long service awards for having spent 10 to 40 years at the Black Rock, St. Michael institution. Social worker, Cecilia Ramsay received the 40-year award while Senior Nursing Officer, Alfred Alleyne was bestowed the 35-year award. Both were presented by Minister Ishmael.

Three people received the Hospital Director’s Award – Infection Control Officer, Selvin Greenidge; Deputy Principal Nursing Officer, Michelle Moore; and Department Aide, Rodney Stuart. The hospital also recognised its retirees and presented the “Friends of Psychiatric Hospital Award” to four persons – Peter ‘Peter Ram” Wiggins, Geoffrey “Biggie Irie” Cordle, Nikita Herbert, and Faith Callender – for their voluntary service to the institution and championing mental health initiatives. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Senior Nursing Officer at the Psychiatric Hospital, Alfred Alleyne (right), is presented with the 35-year award by Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Davidson Ishmael at the hospital’s awards ceremony last Saturday.

Government

EDMUND HINKSON RESIGNS

Speaker of the House of Assembly The Hon Arthur Holder shortly after the sitting began today read a letter of resignation submitted by the Hon. Edmund Hinkson representative for St. James North.

The letter stated ‘In accordance with Section 45 (1) b of the Constitution of Barbados, I hereby give notice that I shall resign from the Parliament of Barbados a the Member for the Constituency of St. James North effective Friday April 25th, April, 2025 at 10am.

Government

Prime Minister Mottley Pays Tribute To Pope Francis

The world today feels like a lonely place with the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis. For me, Pope Francis was the beacon of global moral strategic leadership.

I confess that it was Pope Francis’ writings and teachings that guided and inspired me through the dark and desolate days of the COVID-19 pandemic, as I worked with others to lead Barbados through that period of grave uncertainty. He was, in every sense, my hero.

I was later humbled to have spent time with him late last year, where he reinforced in me the importance of always aligning our hearts, our heads, and our hands with our faith – to see, hear, and feel all people, so that we may help them, and to protect our planet.

His voice comforted and inspired many. His hands led him to places where others dared not go, and His heart knew no boundaries. His humour and his laughter were not only infectious but calming.

Let us, each and every day, see, hear, and feel people—to fight the globalisation of indifference. In so doing, we will walk the road he paved tirelessly to the very end of his life.

If we dare to live with heart, to serve with courage, humility, and to love without borders—then Pope Francis still walks among us.

May His soul forever rest in peace. (PR/GIS)