Freedom Of Barbados Award For President Kenyatta

PICTURED ABOVE – Governor General Dame Sandra Mason presents the Freedom of Barbados Award to President of the Republic of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, at Government House, today.

OCT 6, 2021 – SHEENA FORDE-CRAIGG

The Freedom of Barbados Award has been bestowed on President of the Republic of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta.

Governor General Dame Sandra Mason presented President Kenyatta with the national award, this morning at Government House.

The Freedom of Barbados Award is given for extraordinary service to Barbados, the Caribbean Diaspora or to humanity at large. It may also be given to a Head of State or Government.

President Kenyatta was conferred the accolade of Honorary Member of The Order of The Freedom of Barbadosfor his outstanding accomplishment as a global leader, his commitment to enhancing global trade and sustainable development and efforts to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and friendship between Kenya and CARICOM, in particular the bilateral relationship between Kenya and Barbados.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, who was present for the ceremony, noted that it was fitting that a man whose first name means freedom, received the Freedom of Barbados Award.

Ms. Mottley added that Barbados wanted to recognise the extraordinary efforts of President Kenyatta who had been “in the forefront of bringing a lot of the policies used together” for Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP) states.

“He’s been in the forefront of the ACP discussions and he’s been in the forefront of our being able to bridge the gap across the Atlantic,” she stated.

Upon receipt of his award, President Kenyatta expressed thanks to the Governor General, Prime Minister Mottley and the people of Barbados. He also shared how he felt to have received the award.

“It is a moment for me of great pride and joy to be able to receive this honour, which I say, I feel I’ve received not just on my own behalf, but on behalf of my country and countrymen and women, but also on behalf of the continent as a symbol really, of the coming together of our two regions and the working together of our two regions. So, for me personally, it’s a moment of great pride and joy.”

Mr. Kenyatta is the fourth President of Kenya, and has been in office since April 9, 2013. Also in attendance at the ceremony were Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Dr. Jerome Walcott, other government officials, and a delegation from Kenya.