Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley described the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as a “critical partner”, when she held extensive discussions with its President, Mauricio Claver-Carone, on Tuesday, at Ilaro Court.
Ms. Mottley said the Bank has always had a role in the island’s development over the years, as she recalled its assistance with the transformative EDUTECH Programme, which was rolled out in local schools less than 25 years ago.
The Prime Minister said she and her officials were looking forward to working with the IDB on a number of climate-related issues, as she contended that “we have to think outside of the box” on matters pertaining to adaptation, as a result of the climate crisis.
During the wide-ranging talks, Ms. Mottley and Mr. Claver-Carone also spoke about natural disaster clauses; the coastal development work is undertaken by IDB in Barbados; the climate crisis and its impact on small island developing states, and the COVID-19 pandemic and its negative effects on the economy, in particular for tourism and travel-dependent countries.
Those attending the meeting included Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Dr. The Most Honourable Jerome Walcott; Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Senator Lisa Cummins; Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment, Marsha Caddle, and Director of Finance and Economic Affairs, Ian Carrington.
In addition, the IDB’s team included, Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer, Jessica Bedoya; Vice President for Countries, Richard Martínez Alvarado, and Country Representative, Viviana Alva Hart. (BGIS)
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