Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, staunchly defended his ministry and the overseas missions established to advance the country’s interests on the international stage.
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday during his contribution to debate on the Appropriation Bill, Symmonds provided a comprehensive account of his stewardship. He highlighted key diplomatic engagements and international collaborations.
Symmonds spoke about the recent Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government meeting held at the Wyndham, where, for the first time in the history of CARICOM, representatives from Silicon Valley were in attendance.
“The African Exim Bank is in the process of acquiring land in Barbados so that it can establish a trade centre,” he revealed, underscoring the strengthening of ties between Barbados and Africa.
He also pointed to increasing diplomatic activity in Barbados, including the establishment of a World Food Programme hub and the UN International Office of Migration. He noted that the embassies of Panama, Colombia, and Mexico are either newly opened or in the process of opening. Additionally, Interpol will establish an office in Barbados, strengthening international crime prevention efforts.
Addressing concerns about foreign missions, Symmonds cited tangible benefits, particularly in the healthcare sector. He referenced the Ghanaian mission’s role in facilitating the arrival of over 200 nurses to Barbados. He also revealed discussions with Kenya’s labour Minister to secure additional human resource assistance.
On the energy front, Symmonds emphasised the critical role foreign expertise is playing in the redesign of Barbados’ energy sector. He noted that Kenya and Ethiopia are assisting in energy planning, as Barbados currently lacks local specialists in power generation planning.
“The Kenyan mission has engaged their central bank with the Central Bank of Barbados, and you would have seen in the Budget that there is a payment platform that is about to start in Barbados later this year,” Symmonds stated, emphasising increased financial collaboration.
Further elaborating on economic and logistical partnerships, he noted the strategic role of the port of Mombasa in Kenya, which possesses significant logistical expertise that could be beneficial to the Barbados Port Inc.
Symmonds also pointed to growing ties with Sierra Leone, with the president of that country currently visiting Barbados discussing closer cooperation. He also stressed ongoing collaborations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to establish a tertiary data centre in Barbados, which aims to position the island as a hub for digital identification services and integrated data systems to enhance cybersecurity.
Additionally, he highlighted agricultural collaborations with Saudi Arabia to mitigate the impact of extreme heat on poultry, an issue that has recently plagued local farmers.
“The Minister of Agriculture, sir, we’re working with him in order to make sure that we can get the assistance that he needs in order to deal with the deaths of our chickens because of extreme heat. And the Saudis are specialists in that area,” he stated.
In defending the role of overseas missions, Symmonds emphasised their value in securing critical resources and expertise to advance national development.
(IMC1)
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