Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley on Wednesday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit as a “historic moment” for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries. She expressed pride in hosting the India-CARICOM Summit, emphasising its significance for fostering deeper ties between India and the Caribbean nations.
“It is a historic moment for most of us in CARICOM to meet with PM Narendra Modi and participate in the CARICOM-India Summit at the Heads of Government level. We are honoured to host this important engagement,” Prime Minister Mottley said.
Speaking to ANI, the Barbados prime minister noted that the last meeting of the leaders took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. She added that these interactions “speak of the strength of the relationship between the two regions.”
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is a bloc of 21 countries, comprising 15 member states and six associate members. According to its official website, CARICOM is home to approximately 16 million citizens, 60 per cent of whom are under the age of 30, representing diverse ethnic groups including Indigenous Peoples, Africans, Indians, Europeans, Chinese, Portuguese, and Javanese.
CARICOM was established in 1973 with the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which was revised in 2002 to allow for the eventual establishment of a single market and economy. The bloc operates on four main pillars: economic integration, foreign policy coordination, human and social development, and security.
India and Barbados share close and cordial relations, engaging actively in the UN, Commonwealth, NAM, and other international fora. The External Affairs Ministry highlighted that Barbados has consistently supported India’s candidature for various multilateral bodies under the UN.
Approximately 3,000 people of Indian origin reside in Barbados, most of whom have acquired local nationality.
Earlier, PM Modi received a warm welcome from the President of Guyana, Irfaan Ali, as well as the Prime Ministers of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, and Barbados, Mia Mottley. Four ministers from Guyana also greeted him at a hotel in Georgetown.
(ANI)
