Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley in a tête-à-tête with Commonwealth Secretary General, Shirley Botchwey, at the opening ceremony of the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle Resort on Tuesday. (C. Pitt/BGIS)
With growing threats to democracy and the escalating consequences of the climate crisis, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has underscored that the world is demanding more than “polite conversations” from governments to solve these complex issues.
She expressed this view on Tuesday while addressing hundreds of delegates at the opening ceremony of the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, held at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle Resort, St. Philip. The theme for this year’s conference is Commonwealth – A Global Partner.
Ms. Mottley noted that countries continue to face rising debt burdens and other pressing social and economic challenges that require urgent attention during the conference.
She reminded her audience that parliamentarians have a vital role to play in helping to stabilise nations at a time when a “crisis of truth” is eroding trust and causing “institutions to wallow”.
“Our task as parliamentarians is to help stabilise our countries and our democracies by seeking always to rebuild trust, not by talk, but by the hard practice of fairness, and this practice has a name, it is called partnership. In our region, we have shown what partnership looks like…. Today, we introduce a bill that we debate next week that will allow us to properly frame… the full freedom of movement of our people between St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Dominica and Barbados, freedom to live and work across borders, with dignity supported by systems for access to education and health. This is love translated into policy and integration where ordinary people live it every day and beyond our shores,” Ms. Mottley stated.
The Prime Minister added that without cooperation across capitals and institutions, there can be no lasting stability or security in this world or in our regions, as partnership “is not a luxury, it is the hinge of peace”.
Reflecting on the importance of the Commonwealth as an institution, Ms. Mottley emphasised that it must represent more than a shared past, but a future with elements that bind us together.
In this regard, she urged delegates to explore ways to work together on critical global issues, including the climate crisis, digital governance, the threats posed by AI, and the protection of democracy.
Ms. Mottley insisted: “Let us leave Bridgetown with more than words. Let this be the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference where we move from declaration to deeds. Let us show that this Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is not only a forum of history, but a … catalyst for legislative action that makes partnership tangible in people’s lives.”
The opening ceremony also featured entertainment and remarks by several dignitaries, including the President of Barbados, Her Excellency, the Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, who delivered the keynote address.
Other speakers were Commonwealth Secretary General, Shirley Botchwey; Speaker of the House, Arthur Holder; Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Executive Committee, Dr. Christopher Kalilia; Secretary General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Stephen Twigg; and Leader of the Opposition, Ralph Thorne.
The conference runs from Sunday, October 5, to Sunday, October 12.
Author: Julie Carrington
Source: https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/blog/robust-dialogue-needed-to-address-global-issues/
