Arts & Culture Features H.E. Elizabeth Thompson urges all to do their part Barbados Today10/01/20230149 views Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Barbados with responsibility for Climate Change, Small Island Developing States, and Law of the Sea, and Deputy President of the Senate of Barbados Elizabeth Thompson. Everyone must get involved to help transform the Caribbean into sustainable island states. That’s according to Her Excellency Elizabeth Thompson, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Barbados with responsibility for Climate Change, Small Island Developing States, and Law of the Sea. Her Excellency was the guest speaker at the first New Year’s Gala hosted by the St Kitts Prime Minister last Saturday at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort’s Grand Ballroom. The event was held under the theme New Beginnings. The ambassador highlighted that it requires an all hands on deck approach to accomplish the shift into a sustainable island state and encouraged everyone to use “our vibe” as Caribbean people to “leverage what we have to offer to take our place on the global stage”. She added, “This is the time for the Caribbean to rise; to rise and be a global leader. This is the time for the people of the region to show the world the gift with which we have been endowed, our intellect, our capacity, our creative genius, the warmth, and kindness, and make no mistake, it is not an accident that the Caribbean is one of the greatest tourism destinations in the world.” The ambassador reassured the audience of her confidence in the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis to not only transform the Federation into a sustainable island state but also make a significant impact globally. Ambassador Thompson stated, “The first thing that would help to define St. Kitts and Nevis as a sustainable island state is the recognition that you must be part and are a part of something great. Something that is bigger than yourselves. A momentum that is driving you, that is driving a country, that is driving a region.” The St Kitts Prime Minister, Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, shared the goal of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party Administration to chart the course for success. He stated, “Success in food security, green energy transition, economic diversification, sustainable industries, the Creative Economy, COVID-19 recovery, and social protection. Our objective is to advance towards becoming a sustainable island state because we hold, as a core value, the belief that environmental resources must be protected and preserved, and that economic growth must be balanced by fairness and opportunities for all.” (PR)