PM Mottley and VP Harris in high-level talks in Washington

Vice president of the United States, Kamala Harris, on Wednesday said the relationship between that country and Barbados was a very important one.

She also spoke of the importance of the connection between the United States and CARICOM as she welcomed Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley to high level meeting with other officials at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington DC.

Mottley left Barbados on Tuesday to attend an International Monetary Fund meeting in the United States.

“I truly believe our world is interconnected and interdependent more so than ever before as highlighted by most recent events, including the pandemic, but also as highlighted by one of the greatest crises we face as a globe, which is the climate crisis,” said Harris as she welcomed the prime minister.

“Our conversation today will, I believe, cover a number of these issues including not only what we must do in the short term, but the potential our relationship has in the long term to address these issues in a way that has positive impact on the people of our two countries,” she said.

Mottley recognised the “strong leadership” between the two countries. She said the United States and the region faced common threats, noting “the world has never been so precariously placed in decades than it is now”.

The Prime Minister said it was therefore important to work together on issues that included the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, security threats and prosperity promotion.

She thanked Harris for the donation of COVID-19 vaccines, which she said was timely. (CM)