BY SHEENA FORDE-CRAIGG | FEB 1, 2024
Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, speaking at yesterday’s joint press conference at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre while Senegal’s President, Macky Sall, listens attentively. (GP)
Barbados and Senegal have committed to enhancing ties through cooperation in several areas.
This was disclosed by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and President of the Republic of Senegal, Macky Sall, at a joint press conference held last evening at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Two Mile Hill, St. Michael.
Ms Mottley noted that Barbados, like Senegal, recognises there is a need for structural transformation of the economic structures. Without it, the people of both nations will not be able to prosper and make the transition into the new 21st century.
“It’s important to know that we face common challenges but we have a common approach to development. Like Barbados, Senegal has provided free primary to tertiary education to its people. It has invested heavily in health care, and therefore believes that at the centre of development must come its people,” the Prime Minister stated.
It is to this end that both leaders gave the assurance that their governments are committed to deepening ties and cooperating in several areas, which are outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Political Cooperation signed yesterday.
The MOU speaks to the framework under which steps will be taken to cooperate in tourism, culture, food, and nutritional security, to name a few.
“We’ve had sporadic interaction at the people-to-people level and occasional interaction at the diplomatic level. This (official visit) signals a desire for us to change the fact that we don’t want that kind of sporadic relationship, but we want a continuous one as neighbours…. We hope that we can sign an air services agreement in the near future, as well as a double taxation agreement and bilateral investment treaty,” Ms. Mottley said.
The Prime Minister disclosed that an offer was made to have Barbadian works housed in the Museum of Black Civilizations, which she described as “a major honour”.
She also disclosed that an invitation had been extended for five artists to participate in the Biennale in Senegal’s capital, Dakar, in May.
Ms. Mottley said: “It is another great opportunity for us to express that Barbadians, even though from a small nation, in terms of land size, we have been able to produce persons capable of global excellence, not just in the form of Sir Gary or Rihanna, but indeed among our artists and other expressions of creativity.”
President Sall, in indicating his commitment to working together with the Government of Barbados, noted that activities undertaken during his visit, including the bilateral meeting and business forum, signalled the willingness to work together towards the development of both countries and their people.
“With you, my dear Mia, we are committed to reforming global governance, particularly under the Bridgetown process that you initiated. Together, we are convinced that the international system inherited from the Second World War is obsolete and can no longer govern the realities of the 21st century. So, everybody needs to muster the courage to take the next step so that we enter a more just world, global village.…
“We have a common history; we have the same origins; we just were separated in pain by slavery. This is why we should do our utmost together to preserve our collective memory, especially for the respect of our cultural and civilisational values,” President Sall stated.
The Senegalese President thanked the Prime Minister and the people of Barbados for the warm welcome and hospitality he and his delegation received.
