Barbados welcomes Japanese diplomat

The new Japanese Ambassador to Barbados, Her Excellency Kayoko Fukushima, has pledged her commitment to ensuring that Bridgetown and Tokyo achieve “mutual benefits” for their people through continued collaboration.

Officials in Bridgetown welcomed Fukushima, Japan’s second resident Ambassador to the island on Wednesday during a reception at the Accra Beach Hotel.

The event was attended by several representatives from government, the Democratic Labour Party, the private sector, global business community, regional and international organisations and other diplomats and friends of Japan.

“These are challenging times, but at the same time exciting times and through collaboration and cooperation we can all achieve mutual benefits for our countries and our people. I am committed to this goal and I look forward to your support on this journey,” said Fukushima.

This year, the two countries are celebrating 55 years of diplomatic relations.

She noted that since officially establishing ties in August 1967, relations between Barbados and Japan have broadened and deepened through cooperation and exchanges in a wide range of areas including education, sports, culture and disaster risk management.

“The opening of the first resident mission in Barbados in 2016 further enhanced these linkages and our Embassy was delighted to have Nanyo-City host Barbadian athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games last year,” she added.

Pointing to the areas of collaboration over the years, Fukushima said she was confident the relationship between the two islands would continue to grow.

“Given our friendly history and mutually-shared values of freedom, democracy and respect for human rights, I am extremely confident that Japan’s friendship with Barbados will continue to grow. As I settle in, I look forward to working with many of you, Barbadians, fellow members of the diplomatic corps and international organisations to promote friendly relations with Barbados,” she said.

Sandra Husbands, Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Business Development in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, joined in welcoming Fukushima to the island. She also noted that through collaboration the two countries should be able to overcome common challenges.

“One example of this is the collaborative efforts of Japan and Barbados in tackling challenges in our blue economy through the project for improving the national sargassum management capacities in the region,” said Husbands.

Thanking Japan for its help in tackling the menacing seaweed issue, Husbands pointed out: “As a tourism entity you could imagine the impact that sargassum would have on the visitor experience.”

She pointed to other benefits derived from the partnership between the two countries in the areas of education and disaster risk mitigation.

“The bilateral relationship has therefore provided and continues to provide tangible solutions to the unique issues we face as small island states,” she said.

Stating that she was optimistically looking forward to the “continued fervent pursuit of endeavours” which seek to deepen the relationship, Husbands said she was certain the relationship between the two countries will continue to be beneficial. (MM)