Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has made a powerful call for unity:fricanism and the fight against colonialism, emphasizing that the lessons of Adwa-unity, resilience, and the triumph of good over evil-must guide the present generation.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Mottley highlighted the historical and cultural ties between Africa and the Caribbean, noting that Barbados, as the first landmass from Africa, has a unique role to play in bridging Africa and Caribbean regions. “We have come to reclaim our Atlantic destiny. It is up to us to determine whether the history of separation shall be our future or whether the spirit of Adwa can be our inspiration,” she said.
As Chair of the V20, the prime minister underscored the existential threat posed by climate change, particularly for the poorest nations. “It is the poorest of the poor who remain the most vulnerable to floods, droughts, and hurricanes. We must (therefore) confront this existential crisis together,” Mottley stated, urging global leaders to act decisively.
She also made a passionate appeal for reparations, starting with an acknowledgment of historical wrongs. “Say sorry. Say sorry and mean it. And after you say sorry, recognize that the future of the world is not possible without the stability of Africa and its diaspora,” she pointed out.
Announcing that the first in-person CARICOM-AU Summit is scheduled for September 7, 2023, in Addis Ababa, Mottley emphasized the need for tangible actions such as creating air and sea bridges to facilitate travel and trade between the two regions. “By that simple act, we build on the inaugural summit which took place virtually in 2021, but more importantly, we seek to regularize and establish as a permanent point of interaction the unity of which I speak and call for,” she said.
The prime minister urged Africa and the Caribbean to take control of their resources and shape the future of technology, rather than being victims of it. “How not does a continent that has 40 percent of the world’s minerals not be in charge of helping to secure the destiny and stability of the planet?” she asked, challenging leaders to act boldly.
Celebrating the resilience and creativity of African and Caribbean people, Mottley also called for a renewed commitment to cultural expression and unity. “We celebrate our resilience and creativity, not as apostrophes to history, but as the ones who can level the playing field and create opportunities for our people,” she stated.
The prime minister concluded with a rallying cry for leaders to prioritize peace, prosperity, and justice, emphasizing that the stability of the world depends on a prosperous and united Africa and its diaspora. “We have to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery and build the future that our people want of us in the spirit and with the results of Adwa,” she declared.