BY SHEENA FORDE-CRAIGG | MAR 30, 2023
Mexico’s Ambassador to Barbados, Víctor Hugo Morales Meléndez presents a gift to Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, during their courtesy call, today. (S. Forde-Craigg/BGIS)
Barbados and Mexico have agreed to bolster their cordial and cooperative relationship, which was formally established on September 11, 1972.
This was the focal point of discussion when Ambassador of Mexico to Barbados, Víctor Hugo Morales Meléndez, paid a courtesy call on Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, at his Ministry, at Culloden Road, St. Michael, this morning.
During his talks with the Ambassador, Mr. Symmonds stressed: “We are trying to build bridges into the Spanish speaking part of this region and that is something that we have failed to do for a long time, but it is very important that we connect and strengthen our bilateral relations.”
Ambassador Meléndez concurred that the relationship could be enhanced and highlighted that his country was in the process of opening some embassies around the world, mainly in Asia and some in Africa.
In this regard, he stated: “It’s also relevant for us to have more presence in the Caribbean countries and in Barbados. It’s increasingly important…. You are a leader in some relevant issues and international agenda, so for us it is important to have a strong presence here in Bridgetown.”
The two officials also discussed the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency; the Fifth CARICOM-Mexico Summit, to be held in May in Mexico City; climate change; the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the possibility of cooperating in matters of mutual interest.
The Mexican Ambassador, who resides in Trinidad and Tobago, is on the island to launch the inaugural Mexican Film Festival, which takes place from Thursday, March 30, to Friday, March 31, at the Barbados Museum and Historical Society.
The festival is part of the ongoing celebrations to commemorate the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between Mexico and Barbados.
Also present at the meeting were: Senior Foreign Service Officer, Ricardo Kellman; Foreign Service Officer, Shireifa Joseph; Honourary Consul to Mexico in Barbados, Sir Trevor Carmichael, and Head of Economic Affairs, Trade and Cooperation at the Embassy of Mexico in Trinidad and Tobago, Flavio González Hernández.
