It has only been two weeks, but the experience so far could easily equate to a year of disruption, chaos, and division. That has been the general sentiment emanating from the United States of America where the changes are occurring so rapidly that people barely have time to digest one before six more come.
That is an impossible way to run a country, especially one that is the largest and most powerful in the world. One could argue that it is definitely not the way one would run a vegetable stall on Suttle Street in The City.
Unfortunately, this is the government that the American electoral system with all its flaws has delivered to its citizens and the rest of the world is stuck with it for the next four years.
Prior to the inauguration of the new president, people were discussing how they might survive this term. Today, as incredulous as it seems, some are contemplating whether it is possible the country’s leader would remain in office even after 2028.
Fortunately, as GenZs would remark, “That’s a 2028 problem” and it is for American citizens to resolve.
What is a problem for Barbadians is the question of how the swiftly changing policy positions, some representing 180-degree shifts, are likely to affect them.
The entire world has witnessed that with the new administration, friendships and alliances are transactional and a designated friend today can easily become a designated enemy just 24 hours later. Case in point – the Canadians.
Having staved off a likely crippling trade war with their neighbour, at least for the next 30 days, Canadians are still seething from what they deemed as a pernicious stab in the back and a demand by the American leader to be subsumed as the 51st state.
For us in Barbados, there is still a wait and see attitude by many, who are yet to figure out how the world got to this state of chaos and turmoil. The undocumented Barbadians migrants have not yet arrived, but there are murmurs of unease, as senior officials are very cautious with their public statements.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has highlighted the need to respect America’s right to protect its borders, even if there are concerns about how the process is being undertaken.
At a recent global awards ceremony in Abu Dahbi where she received the 2025 Zayed Award For Human Fraternity on United Nations-recognised International Day of Human Fraternity, Mottley stressed the need for patience.
“[It is] our duty to hold on, desired duty to press on, desired duty to take the long, long, deep breaths, but it is our responsibility always to recognise that we must make history trend in the right direction,” she urged.
There are likely to be testing days and possibly years ahead in which Barbados will have to stealthily negotiate its diplomatic and foreign policy positions on several issues. It will be a matter of survival on an unprecedented landscape.
As Minister of Agriculture and Member of Parliament Indar Weir wrote recently on his Facebook page: “For the Caribbean, this is a crucial moment for reflection and action. CARICOM must recognise that it can no longer afford to be at the mercy of global trade policies dictated by major economic powers. The region has the capacity to be largely self-sufficient in key areas, as demonstrated by Cuba’s resilience in maintaining its industries despite decades of embargoes.
“Cuba’s ability to sustain its automotive sector for generations, for example, highlights how necessity can drive innovation and create opportunities in mechanics, engineering, and manufacturing. The Caribbean should adopt a similar mindset—maximizing local resources, investing in industrialisation, and ensuring that economic decisions made in Washington or Beijing do not dictate the region’s survival.”
An inelegant public statement; an ill-timed diplomatic alliance; a vote on a matter that on reconsideration should have been an abstention – these are all actions that could have serious implications.
For those who regard this as a timid position, they may be correct, but as Miss Brathwaite from Eagle Hall would advise “Time is longer than twine”. It is the long game on which Barbados should focus, for this too shall pass.
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