BY SHEENA FORDE-CRAIGG | JAN 29, 2024
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerry Symmonds (right), chatting with UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and Eastern Caribbean, Didier Trebucq, at a recent engagement with members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps and heads of international organisations based in Barbados. (C. Pitt/BGIS)
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerry Symmonds, believes building and strengthening partnerships with the diplomatic and consular corps is key to Barbados achieving its goals.
Mr. Symmonds stated this during an engagement with members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps and heads of international organisations based in Barbados. He thanked them for the assistance provided over the years and highlighted the rationale for deeper engagement going forward.
The Minister explained that the strengthening of ties and deeper engagement would assist Barbados with the necessary tools to not only attain its Sustainable Development Goals but also improve the lives of citizens, as Government seeks to build resilience and plan for the future.
He stressed that it is vitally important that communication and dialogue between the Corps and the Ministry take place to tackle some of the bottlenecks and challenges that impact the ease of doing business.
“There is a need for us to recognise not only the challenges of the day but the opportunities that we have. The Government has dedicated itself and we will be unflinching in our efforts to rise to the challenges, as we intend to do everything within our power to manage the transformation that we have to manage and be thought leaders in the process.
“And, I know that we can only do this via partnership with you and support from you. And that is why I wanted to begin the year by engaging you and letting you know candidly what are some of the things that we’re trying to do,” Minister Symmonds stated.
The Minister reminded those present of the words of Barbados’ first Prime Minister and National Hero, the Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow, who indicated that Barbados’ foreign policy was characterised along the lines of being “friends of all and satellites of none”.
He added that the country’s policy is never going to be a diplomacy of power, but diplomacy of development of this country and by extension, the development of the region.
Mr. Symmonds noted that Barbados has had a “wonderful history” with members of the diplomatic corps over the years and through the partnerships developed, the island was assisted in overcoming some of its challenges, most notably the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of the areas mentioned for further engagement and dialogue include the climate crisis, trade, migration, transformation of the energy sector, maritime affairs, education, tourism, global conflict, fishing, and subsidy agreements.
He gave the assurance that the Ministry is working on being ‘fit for purpose’ and is willing to work hand-in-hand with the Corps to strengthen ties and build a brighter future for Barbados.
“The desirability of a structured interface with the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, and the heads of the institutions is something I think is important, not just to meet for the sake of meeting, but to meet for a purpose, and to have serious dialogue…. And I want to pledge here and now that it is the intention of the Permanent Secretary and myself to do everything within our power to make sure that happens,” Minister Symmonds said.
