Kenyan leader awarded ‘Freedom of Barbados’ national honour

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has been bestowed with one of the nation’s highest awards in honour of his “relentless efforts towards forging ties between Barbados and other CARICOM nations and the African continent”.

During a brief ceremony at Government House on Wednesday, Governor General Dame Sandra Mason presented President Kenyatta with the Freedom of Barbados. It cites “outstanding accomplishments as a global leader, his commitment to enhancing trade and sustainable development and efforts to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and friendship between the Republic of Kenya and Barbados and the Caribbean”

Upon receiving the award, President Kenyatta, on his second visit here in two years, expressed his gratitude for the recognition. He stressed that he and Prime Minister Mia Mottley saw it as important for the region to strengthen ties with nations across the African diaspora.

He said: “Our desire and our objective, is to be able to see people of African descent come together, stand together, and be able to fight for our respective rights, freedom, and our space in global affairs, and the recognition that we are able to do this stronger when we are together.

“This I believe is the spirit that has once again brought me to Barbados, the spirit that continues to encourage me to continue with the work that we have started, and really my hope and prayer that as a result of the engagements that we would have had, that we will say that the strengthening and reestablishment of the Pan African spirit have bought us our independence.”

The Kenyan president added that the coronavirus pandemic and large fluctuations in the world’s financial markets have proved that more cooperation across the two regions should not be seen as a dream alone but a necessity.

“In view of the current global crisis, such as COVID-19 and others, that once again has reminded us that our unity is going to be [our] strength,” he declared. “That is our unity to come together, our unity to be able to focus on these global issues as one that will help us all. We have no one else out there for us.”

Prime Minister Mottley also stressed that the opportunities for cooperation between Kenya and Barbados are ripe for investment, particularly in the areas of tourism and agriculture.

She told journalists: “We believe there is an opportunity for joint marketing on our two destinations, both at the electronic level, but if you go into every room in Barbados there is a card from Kenya for safari, and when you go into a room in Kenya there is a card to come Barbados. That in of itself expands our opportunities.

“The excellent work that the Kenyans have done on forestry and agriculture – Kenya is the leading exporter in the world on roses and flowers, and we want to be able to ensure that we can get in within the region, not just Barbados, in allowing them to bring that expertise to investment, that they can reach the North American and Central American countries with greater ease, than having to hire transport costs from Africa.” (SB)