Government

Barbados And Ireland To Deepen Synergies

The Government of Barbados and the Republic of Ireland have agreed to deepen synergies given their historical connections and shared values.

This move to deepen and strengthen relations between the two countries was discussed during a recent courtesy call with Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds; and the Ambassador of Ireland to Barbados, Geraldine Byrne Nason, at Ilaro Court.

The courtesy call followed Ambassador Nason’s presentation of credentials to the President of Barbados, Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason.

Although diplomatic relations between Barbados and Ireland were established on May 3, 2001, the relationship dates back to the 1620s, when Irish people immigrated to Barbados. This can be seen in the many Barbadian familial names which can be traced to Irish roots, for example, Fenty, Dixon, McCarthy, and Forde.

According to Ms. Mottley, it is a natural progression for the two countries to pursue a more meaningful and robust bilateral engagement that would enhance their longstanding heritage ties. To this end, Barbados established an embassy in Dublin, Ireland, this year, which is headed by the resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ireland, Cleviston Haynes.

“So, the truth is that Europe remains important to us but building on Ireland’s historical connection with us is even more important because the opportunities for synergies are real, and we see development occurring in heritage tourism, culture, and educational skills…. And at the end of the day, at every level, I believe there are appreciable benefits to be derived from enhanced cooperation between our two countries,” Prime Minister Mottley said.

In response, Ambassador Nason said she agreed the time had come to build on the existing relationship. “I think it makes it all the more, in a way, incumbent on us now, in this existing spirit, to renew this relationship and make it more fruitful,” she stated.

*Tourism and culture were also discussed during the courtesy call, for which Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, was also present.*

During the meeting, the officials also discussed the economic risks of climate change on small island developing states (SIDS) and the need for a more inclusive approach to addressing the climate crisis.

This led to dialogue on Ireland’s ‘Second Strategy for Partnership with Small Island Developing States to 2026’, which has as one of its four pillars, multi-commitment action plans to work to ensure that the climate challenges faced by SIDS and their ocean-related priorities are systematically reflected in their policy and funding decisions and that their climate action and advocacy respond to SIDS needs.

Minister Symmonds thanked the Irish government for the initiative and for their role in advocating for SIDS. “We are grateful for Ireland’s perspective and partnership and its voice. I think a lot of the advocacy that you have offered is really helpful and we look forward to your continued support,” he said.

The Washington, D.C. Resident Ambassador noted: “It’s a fundamental tenet of our foreign policy to work with small island developing states. The relationship is a unique evolution in our foreign policy. I’ve been doing this all my life and I haven’t seen that we’ve stayed immersed in such an intimate relationship as we now have with the SIDS. So, it’s not so much a strategy, as it is a partnership.”

The officials also spoke of the importance of the European Union as a trade and investment gateway for the Caribbean and the potential for Ireland to play a gateway role into Europe for SIDS.

Tourism and culture were also discussed, and the Ambassador shared that an agreement was made with the Barbados Museum and Historical Society to host an exhibition later this year entitled “Entangled Islands”.

Also participating in the courtesy call were Senior Foreign Service Officer, Trecia King; Foreign Service Officer II, Shireifa Joseph; Ireland’s Head of Office for the Caribbean, Sharon Lennon; and Ireland’s Political Counsellor, Aoife Erraught. (PR/GIS)

Government

Barbados Statistical Service Statement On Data Breach

The Barbados Statistical Service (BSS) confirms that we recently experienced a cyber incident. Ongoing investigations suggest that the systems of the BSS were breached on October 30, 2024, and that data was obtained by malicious actors. The Data Commissioner was advised.

Within 24 hours of the intrusion into the systems of the BSS, an incident response team was mobilised and deployed by the relevant Authority to contain the incident and investigate the scope of the breach along with BSS IT staff.

The incident has been contained, systems taken offline, and the investigations, so far, reveal that most of the information involved in this incident relates to survey data gathered primarily for statistical research purposes and then aggregated. The teams are still in the early stages of their investigations and are currently in the process of restoring data and services from secured backups.

The BSS is cognisant of its obligation to preserve public trust in the very important work of this Department. We will over the coming days and weeks ensure that our systems are appropriately hardened to reduce the probability of a recurrence and will be coming back to the public to advise on any relevant action that should be taken at the individual level to stay safe online following this event. As more information becomes available, we will provide updates to the public. (PR/GIS)

Government

Finance Ministry Approves $30 Million In Tax Payments

The Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs, and Investment announced that it recently released funds enabling the Barbados Revenue Authority (the Authority) to issue $30.4 million in Personal Income Tax (PIT) refunds for income year 2023 to 39,196 taxpayers. Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Ryan Straughn confirmed the announcement.

Minister Straughn praised the Authority’s efforts in maintaining a streamlined process that facilitates the prompt issuance of refunds.

“The majority of refund payments for income year 2023 have been issued electronically via direct deposit and eligible taxpayers will start seeing the amounts on the account of their selected financial institution from as early as this week. This process reaffirms the Government’s ongoing commitment to improve its operations and to deliver efficient service to citizens,” stated Minister Straughn.

“Just under 13 percent of the refund payments processed are being issued via cheque. The cheque payment process has more layers, is a manual process and takes a longer time to process in relation to the disbursement of the payments. So persons will start receiving refund cheques through the post from the latter part of the month.”

Minister Straughn emphasised that the prompt issuance of PIT refunds aligns with Government’s commitment to a robust, citizen-centric service framework.

“The timely execution of these payments reflects our dedication to supporting taxpayers and delivering on our promises to make government services more accessible and responsive. The Barbados Revenue Authority continues to make strides in improving operational efficiency and service delivery,” he added. (PR/GIS)

Government

Barbados Has New Resident High Commissioner To Ghana

Last Thursday, November 7, Barbados’ first resident High Commissioner of Barbados to Ghana, Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland, presented her Letters of Credentials to the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at Jubilee House, Accra, Ghana.

This occasion marked a significant milestone between the two nations, which started formal diplomatic relations in August, 1994.

High Commissioner Bynoe-Sutherland in addressing the dignitaries gathered, brought greetings on behalf of President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, and the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley.

She thanked President Akufo-Addo for his inspirational words to Barbados at National Heroes Square, during the ceremony marking Barbados becoming a Republic in November, 2021.

In her remarks, High Commissioner Bynoe-Sutherland also focused on the ways in which the Atlantic Bridge was being rekindled through areas of cooperation in culture, trade and commerce, agriculture, life sciences and sports.

Having led the national hospital through COVID 19, the High Commissioner highlighted the successful cooperation in health between the two countries since 2019, which she said now serves as a model.

She shared insights into the positive contributions of the first two cohorts of Ghanaian nurses and the programme underway to welcome and orient the recently arrived third cohort of 155 nurses on November 3, 2024.

President Akufo-Addo in response, spoke about the deep enduring relationship between the countries. He asked that special greetings be sent to Prime Minister Mottley for her support and leadership during Ghana’s efforts around its candidacy for Commonwealth Secretary General.

As Barbados assumes from Ghana the Chairmanship of the Climate Vulnerability Forum (V20), cooperation is expected to deepen between the countries on climate vulnerability and efforts to achieve reform of the international financial institutions captured by the Bridgetown Initiative 3.0.

Senior officials of the Government of Ghana and the Barbados High Commission, along with the High Commissioner’s son, celebrated the occasion.

Also in attendance for the presentation of credentials was Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayokor Bocheway, who was successfully elected as the incoming Seventh Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, and who also joined in well-wishes to the High Commissioner and Barbados.

The new High Commissioner extended appreciation for the warm welcome received by the Mission in Ghana which was established in 2021. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Barbados’ first resident High Commissioner to Ghana, Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland greets Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at Jubilee House, Accra, Ghana.