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 Votes To End Embargo On Cuba

Barbados joined the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in condemning the United States’ economic embargo of Cuba for the 32nd consecutive year, when the resolution entitled: “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba” was considered during a meeting held on Wednesday, October 30.

The United Nations overwhelmingly passed the resolution by a vote of 187 (in favour) to two (against), with one abstention. Only the United States and Israel voted against it.

During the delivery of the national statement, Chargé d’Affaires/Deputy Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations, Kereeta Whyte, informed the UNGA that: “The sentiments we express today are not new. They reflect the deep conviction we have articulated in this Assembly over the years. Indeed, since this resolution was first introduced in the General Assembly at its 46th session, in 1991.

“The Government of Barbados once again calls for an immediate end to the embargo and urges the removal of Cuba from the US Department of State’s list of alleged state sponsors of terrorism, a designation that only exacerbates the suffering of the Cuban people.

“We believe that dialogue is the path forward. Barbados values its strong relations with both the United States and Cuba and calls on the US Government to engage in meaningful negotiations with Cuba to normalise relations. This step would not only reduce tensions but also pave the way for greater peace, cooperation, and development in our region.

“Barbados will continue to advocate for the lifting of the economic, commercial and financial blockade, which is critical for the people and Government of Cuba to achieve full prosperity.” (PR/GIS)

Government

MORE WORK NEEDED TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

As the year 2030 quickly approaches, countries, including Barbados, need to speed up their efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This word comes from Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment Senator Chad Blackman, as he addressed Friday’s Validation Workshop for the Baseline Study on the Priority Sustainable Development Goals Indicators for Barbados at the Sagicor Cave Hill School of Business, where he insisted that countries had become too lax in meeting the necessary targets for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which adopted by all UN Member States almost a decade prior.

He said, “We are virtually at the end of 2024, which now leaves us just six years to that magic number of 2030. Whilst there are a lot of goals that Barbados has achieved, the world, including Barbados, has still not met a number of them in the way that we should. And, therefore, we have six years to really redouble, or some might argue, re-triple our efforts, so as to be able to tangibly achieve these objectives. But, we can’t do it alone.
He added, “The government can’t do it on its own; the private sector can’t do it on its own; civil society can’t do it on its own; it has to be government, private sector, civil society, the man on the street…. So that the entire society moves forward in a cohesive way…to meet these targets. Therefore, it calls for an out of box approach so as to ensure that we can meet these targets. Therefore, we have to use all our creativity. We have to use nonconventional ways of trying to help us to achieve these targets.”
Blackman noted that an “out-of-the-box” will be necessary for Barbados and other countries to effectively move the needle to reach the set targets.

Government

XVI Ministerial Forum On Development Starts October 30

The Government of Barbados, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) will host the XVI Ministerial Forum on Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, as a space to discuss opportunities to build resilience against future shocks that continue to challenge development in the region.

The Forum will be held from Wednesday, October 30 to Friday,1 November at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle. The event will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner, and ECLAC Executive Secretary, José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, and is expected to have over 150 participants, including more than 20 Government delegations from the region. The full agenda is available here.

This gathering builds on the discussions initiated at the XIII Ministerial Forum in Antigua and Barbuda in 2021, which discussed disasters and social protection systems in the context of protracted crises. The XVI Ministerial Forum will discuss how the region can advance and protect social gains in the context of more frequent and intense shocks.

A Ministerial Declaration is expected to be the outcome of the Forum. The Declaration aims to be a roadmap for transformative policy action and impactful initiatives that transcend boundaries, ultimately steering the region toward a more equitable and resilient future.