Barbados Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), David Comissiong raises the CARICOM flag above Government Headquarters yesterday.
The Barbados Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), David
Comissiong, participated in the flag raising ceremony yesterday
morning outside the Government Headquarters, which saw the CARICOM
standard raised above the building.
Comissiong raised the CARICOM flag, flanked by a member of the
Barbados Defence Force and one of the Royal Barbados Police Force. He
then made remarks to the media and specially invited guests,
explaining that July 4, 2020 was the date which was decided to
implement the raising of the CARICOM standard and the associated
national flags above every embassy, diplomatic office and high
commission of each CARICOM member state.
“What we have just witnessed is an act that is full of profound
symbolism, but not only symbolism, but an act that augurs well for the
future of CARICOM. Particularly in relation to the objective of
establishing a collective and coordinated CARICOM foreign policy,”
announced the ambassador.
He contended that the people of CARICOM need to understand the
importance of standing united and that the movement to pull together
after COVID-19 would bode well for the region.
“There is a need for CARICOM resolving to fully make its mark on this
world – to add something good and valuable and constructive to
international affairs. But also to be as efficient as possible in
pursuing our own vital interests by doing it collectively as much as
possible, rather than doing it as single nations,” Comissiong
highlighted.
Further reiterating the idea, the ambassador pointed out that the goal
behind the initiative is not just to be united but to project that
image all over the world.
“We have to recognise that we, our Caribbean Community, our states,
our governments, our people, have something very precious to bring to
this world. I do not think we fully understand how unique a people and
region we are.”
The ambassador went on to explain that Barbados lifted the flag
earlier to celebrate Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley, as
Chairman of CARICOM, on her final day as chair before she handed over
the reins to Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph
Gonsalves.
“In tribute to Prime Minister Mottley, we wanted to make this gesture
while she was still Chairperson of CARICOM. We have chosen to do it,
not to fly the flag over a Barbados Embassy or High Commission, but we
wanted to give it the fullest significance by flying it over no other
building but the seat of government in Barbados,” stated Comissiong.
The ambassador also noted that the raising of the CARICOM flag was a
vote of confidence in the decision to proudly fly the standard over
208 different missions in 55 countries come this Saturday, July 4.
Some of the specially invited guests yesterday included Cuban
Ambassador Sergio Pastrana; Chargé d’ Affaires at the Embassy of the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Alvaro Sanchez; Barbados’ CARICOM
Youth Ambassador Chad Monerville; various island associations of
Barbados; Pan Africanist Rev Onkphra Wells of the Spiritual Baptist;
and others.
(AS)