Mia motley Current prime Minster of Barbados

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, July 7, 2025 – Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley delivered a blistering rebuke of global neglect at the 49th CARICOM Heads of Government Summit, accusing world powers of turning a blind eye to Haiti’s humanitarian catastrophe while leaving the Caribbean to bear the brunt.

“The world really needs a check on itself when it comes to Haiti,” Mottley declared. “If ever we doubted that there were first-class and second-class citizens in the eyes of the world—don’t doubt it anymore.”

Her words reflect a brutal truth: over 5,600 Haitians were killed in gang violence in 2024 alone—more than in many war zones. Yet, less than 10% of the $674 million in humanitarian aid requested for Haiti has been delivered.

Mottley also exposed global double standards in financial regulation. Although Barbados and Jamaica were both cleared by the Financial Action Task Force, they remain blacklisted by the EU—what she called an example of “institutional racism dressed up in technical language.”

Undeterred, Mottley is pioneering bold Caribbean-led solutions. Her innovative debt-for-nature swaps, which finance marine conservation and climate adaptation without increasing debt, have drawn global attention. These instruments, with built-in disaster clauses, allow small island nations to pause debt payments after natural catastrophes.

Beyond finance, Mottley warned of a new threat: digital disinformation. Highlighting recent fake news targeting Barbados, she urged CARICOM to develop a regional fact-checking system to safeguard truth in the age of AI.

“This is the new flotilla,” she said, referencing Marcus Garvey. “Not ships, but algorithms will colonize our minds if we’re not vigilant.”

Her rallying cry extended to regional legal autonomy, pushing for wider adoption of the Caribbean Court of Justice as the final appellate court—a cornerstone of true Caribbean sovereignty.

In a world where promises often fail the vulnerable, Mottley is demanding not pity but parity—and reshaping what self-reliance looks like in the Caribbean.

Spread the love

Similar Posts