PM Mottley and Canada’s Foreign Minister hold talks

Prime Minister Mia Mottley today held wide-ranging discussions with Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois-Philippe Champagne during a bilateral meeting at Ilaro Court.

During the hour-long talks, Mottley spoke about Barbados’ economy, saying that although the country was not fully out of the woods, it was a long way from where it was two years ago.

The Prime Minister stressed that sustained growth was required to take the island to the next level and said Government was committed to ensuring it occurred. She noted that Canada had assisted Barbados in a number of areas over the years, and identified two new programmes for which assistance was required.

She further stressed that Barbados and Canada had worked very closely in the past, and underscored the importance of that relationship growing.

Those attending today’s meeting were Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Trade Sandra Husbands; Barbados’ High Commissioner to Canada Reginald Farley and Canada’s High Commissioner to Barbados Marie Legault.

Champagne is representing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was to be the Special Guest at the 31st Intersessional Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, which takes place tomorrow at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

Trudeau has had to remain in Canada because of pressing domestic issues.