PM says Barbados and UK still allies despite republic move

There are strengths in partnership.

That was the message delivered by Prime Minister Mia Mottley during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations held at the British High Commissioner’s residence on Wednesday.

The event, which was one of many held in Commonwealth countries around the world, was attended by local and international dignitaries.

Prime Minister Mottley said that despite the view by some that Barbados’ move to a republic last year was a direct rebuke of the Queen’s influence, the United Kingdom and Barbados remain close allies in the face of mounting challenges facing nations across the globe.

She stressed that the current relationship is one that should continue to grow and develop, particularly during these uncertain times when issues such as climate change, human rights, and war dominate.

“The relationship between our two countries is at a point where, more than ever, we need collaboration and cooperation, because in this world most of the events that are hurting us are events that need to be resolved through collaboration and partnership, and through the establishment of a clear framework for what we must settle as global public goods,” Prime Minister Mottley said.

“It is not those things we can handle within our geographical boundaries that have really given us the hardest road to travel, but it is the absence of a global framework to deal with those things that have effectively undermined global prosperity and global stability.”

She said amid the challenges of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on world economies and health systems, and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, collaboration will be the key to steering countries away from economic ruin and toward prosperity.

“All of these things have caused us to say that we are facing common battles, and it is only through partnership that we will remove the obstacles that are literally causing us these difficulties,” Prime Minister Mottley said.
(SB)