Georgetown
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley on Wednesday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit as a “historic moment” for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), marking the first visit of an Indian PM to the region in 56 years. She expressed pride in hosting the summit between India and CARICOM at the level of Heads of Government, highlighting the strength of the relationship between India and the Caribbean.
Prime Minister Modi was warmly welcomed in Guyana by President Irfaan Ali, along with leaders from Grenada and Barbados, as well as several Guyanese ministers. This marks a significant moment for CARICOM, which consists of 21 countries, including 15 member states and 6 associate members, with a population of 16 million people, primarily young and diverse.
Mottley noted that the last meeting between the leaders was on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. India and Barbados share strong diplomatic ties and actively collaborate in international forums such as the UN, Commonwealth, and NAM. Barbados has supported India’s candidacy for various UN bodies, and around 3,000 people of Indian origin live in Barbados.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit includes addressing a special session of Guyana’s Parliament and attending the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit. His visit, at the invitation of President Irfaan Ali, is set to further strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation between India and the Caribbean.
