(Barbados Nation) Barbados and the State of Palestine formally established diplomatic relations on Tuesday, June 11, at a ceremony at the Barbados Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.
This move follows the April 19, 2024, decision of the Government of Barbados to recognise the State of Palestine.
The Joint Communiqué was signed by Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations, François Jackman, and Ambassador and Permanent Observer of the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, Riyad H. Mansour.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade(MFAFT), Kerrie Symmonds, speaking on the occasion of the signing, said: “Barbados is proud to have reached this milestone in its relationship with the State of Palestine. Today, as we formalise our relationship with the State of Palestine, we are making clear our support for Palestinian self-determination –the right of the people of Palestine to their own state, in accordance with their own wishes.
“We are also proud of whatever small impact our decision to take this step may have had in the wider geopolitical sphere. Barbados’ decision was closely followed in the region by the announcement that The Bahamas, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago were also recognising the State of Palestine. As a result of these developments, all CARICOM countries now recognise Palestine.”