Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds (right) in discussion with the new United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) Representative to Barbados, Abdulkadir Musse Jama, at their meeting yesterday. (S. Forde-Craigg/BGIS)
Multilateralism and education reform were the main issues discussed yesterday, when Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, met with the new United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) Representative to Barbados, Abdulkadir Musse Jama.
Mr. Musse Jama was at the Culloden Road, St. Michael Ministry to present his credentials.
In welcoming the new UNICEF Representative, Mr. Symmonds expressed appreciation for the organisation’s longstanding partnership with Barbados and the wider Caribbean, emphasising the vital impact of its presence and work in the region.
The Minister gave the commitment that the Government of Barbados will continue to promote and safeguard the rights of its citizens, particularly the vulnerable in society, as it prioritises social development policies with an emphasis on the delivery of social services, including quality education and healthcare.
“Feel free to see Barbados as your home away from home…. It is a real privilege for us to be able to welcome someone from the African community, and this is a wonderful time for us and yourself because I think it gives us an opportunity, like never before, to build those bridges,” Mr. Symmonds remarked.
The UNICEF Representative, who has been on the island for three weeks, said he doesn’t feel as if he is “in a foreign country”.
Mr. Musse Jama, an Ethiopian, has extensive experience in emergency response and humanitarian support. His previous posting was in Afghanistan as the Chief of Field Operations and Emergencies, and before that, Libya.
He pledged UNICEF’s support to assist the Government where possible, “not only that small amount of money we bring in … but also with technical support and expertise”.
The two officials also discussed migration, technical assistance, energy, climate change and building climate resilience, and the likely impact of reduced contributions to UNICEF’s outreach efforts.
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfil their potential, from early childhood through to adolescence.
Also present were Senior Foreign Service Officer, Tyrone Brathwaite; acting Foreign Service Officer I, LaToya Archer; and UNICEF’s Communication Specialist, Patrick Knight.
Author: Sheena Forde-Craigg
Source: https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/blog/minister-symmonds-welcomes-unicefs-new-representative/
