Freundel Jerome Stuart, Prime Minister of Barbados, highlights the pressing issues facing Commonwealth Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and shares examples of best practice from Barbados to encourage fellow SIDS to minimise their vulnerabilities and build resilience.
Barbados, like all Caribbean Commonwealth member states, is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS); fragile and vulnerable, both economically and environmentally. The building of resilience, is therefore not a luxury, but a necessity, and an integral part of our survival.
Although the country lacks an abundance of natural resources, it has had a number of social, political and economic successes over the past 51 years as an independent nation, attributed to good governance, political stability and the resilience and industrious nature of our people. However, despite these successes, the country’s vulnerability remains a threat.
Freundel Jerome Stuart
former Prime Minister of Barbados