Blacklisting issue must be settled, says Mottley

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has again expressed concern with the European Union’s blacklisting of Barbados.

Mottley said she is prepared to travel to Europe and meet with high-level officials to deal with the matter. She made the comments recently when the new Ambassador of the European Union, Malgorzata Wasilewska, paid her a courtesy call at the Gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, Wildey, St Michael.

The Prime Minister said the blacklisting issue was one of her biggest headaches, as she highlighted how hard Barbados had worked to bring the economy back on track, and improve its systems.

“This situation is wrong and is now having consequences for day-to-day living,” she said.

Mottley said it was necessary to settle this matter, so the EU and Barbados could work together on other critical issues, such as the climate crisis, data privacy, and human rights.

The Prime Minister, who is co-chairing the One Health Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), spoke extensively on AMR, including what it means for Barbados and the Caribbean to be a part of the leadership grouping. She also discussed how the EU could help to continue the far-reaching body of research that has started in this area.

Wasilewska said it was important for Barbados and the EU to map out what needs to be done, as she emphasised the critical nature of partnership.

Those attending the courtesy call included Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Dr Jerome Walcott; acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Donna Forde; Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, Alies Jordan; and Head of Section – Political, Press and Information, Ovidiu-Viorel Naftanaila. (BGIS)