Gov't eyes Africa, Asia and South America for diplomatic relations

Government plans on expanding its diplomatic relations in Africa, Asia and South America this year. 

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Dr Jerome Walcott disclosed that the Government of Barbados has established diplomatic offices in the United Arab Emirates, Kenya and Ghana.

Addressing the public from Ilaro Court, Dr Walcott said that Government was focused on "strengthening bilateral relations, confirming multilateralism and deepening engagement with like-minded alliances, [and] increasing Barbados' trade levels by enhancing commercial diplomacy". 

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs added that these new missions were formed to foster relations and contribute to "the national effort to economic reconstruction, business and revenue generation, increased investment and expanded trade in Barbados' goods and services". 

"These new missions will be at the forefront of efforts to identify new and emerging sectors that can propel and expand the Barbadian economy and also to strengthen advance and diversify emerging and multilateral action to promote Barbadian interest globally," Dr Walcott remarked. 

The foreign affairs minister revealed that former politician Gline Clarke has been assigned as the High Commissioner to Canada and former head of the Barbados Private Sector Association, Alexander McDonald, has taken on the position of High Commissioner to Kenya and the permanent representative to United Nations (UN) in Nairobi. 

Minister Walcott explained that the Kenyan office will serve as Barbados' permanent mission to the United Nations office in Nairobi which is the third-largest UN office in the world and the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UN-Habitat). He stated that the mission in Nairobi will help to ensure that Barbados participates in the deliberations of both organisations, as they play an important role in initiatives occurring on the island. 

Hallam Henry will be appointed as Ambassador to the People's Republic of China; founder of Bitt Inc., Gabriel Abed will be the ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Francois Jackman will be the ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations in New York. 

Additionally, a commercial and cultural officer will be stationed in Barbados High Commission in Accra, Ghana and a diaspora relations officer will be incorporated into the staff complement of the Barbados High Commission to the United Kingdom in London. Everil Lewis and Phil Phillips will assume the roles respectively. 

Meanwhile, Ambassador Elizabeth Thompson will be based in Bridgetown with special responsibility for climate change, small island development states (SIDS) issues and the law of the sea.  

Government is also seeking to establish partnerships in Asia and is working to accredit the Barbados Embassy in Beijing to Singapore, South Korea, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. 

“It is the Ministry’s intention, over time, to place additional commercial attachés in the overseas diplomatic missions, and to better utilize the Honorary Consul network in this endeavor to build on opportunities for trade and business," the Minister added.