War’s our business – PM

Prime Minister Mia Mottley is not about to drink water and mind her business in the face of Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine, even though she is aware of calls for her to do so. There are too many far reaching consequences for the Barbados economy, she says.

Mottley, who late last month expressed “grave concern” about the military invasion of Ukraine by Russia, described it as deeply disturbing and today sought to clarify her decision to comment on the matter, saying she could not turn a blind eye when the development had an impact on Barbados.

After Government issued its statement calling on Russia to immediately cease hostilities and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, it was met by an outcry from Barbadians.

However, at the start of her budget presentation on Monday, Mottley said she had to speak up since the war will have a “profound effect” on the cost of living for Barbadians due to supply chain disruption and other long-term economic impacts.

Pointing out that the war was also impacting on multilateralism, on which Barbados and other small states depend, Mottley said the war was “our business, even if we are a small nation”.

“It is tempting to consider, and I have heard it said in some quarters, that this is a far away war that has little to do with us.
Indeed, the only thing people didn’t tell me to do is drink water and mind my own business. But they told me to mind my own business . . .” she said.

“The truth is, how the world responds to Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine determines the status and value of territorial sovereignty the world over for generations,” said Mottley.

Recalling that Caribbean states became colonies because of invasion, she said “The concept of invasion and the offensive principle of breaches of attacking countries and people on territorial sovereignty is a principle for which Barbadians will always fight.

“We fought for it when people sought to comment on Venezuela, and we said we were supporting because you could not declare a president that was not part and parcel of your remit so to do, that those were matters for the Venezuelan people. And just as we said it for Venezuela, we say it for Ukraine. Why?

Because friends of all, satellites of none. The principles remain that which guides us,” said Mottley.

She told the House of Assembly, “Our response to this new world cannot be to pretend it is not happening, to continue along our own path unperturbed. It requires different governance – financial, economic and regional responses. It requires us to be able to press on the gas and then on the brakes as appropriate,” she said.

She pointed out that Russia and Ukraine were major suppliers of some commodities including oil, fertilizers and wheat, and that the continued volatile situation would result in severe impact on food prices.

“The world will face serious tribulations on matters of food, energy and by extension financing,” said the finance minister. (MM)