Monrovia, Liberia – At an important signing ceremony in Accra, Ghana, Barbados and the Republic of Liberia formally established diplomatic ties. The agreement was signed by the Head of Mission of the Barbados High Commission, Madam Juliette Babb-Riley, representing Barbados, and Her Excellency Sara Beysolow Nyanti, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.
Following consultations between the Barbados High Commission and the Liberian Embassy in Accra, the ceremony marks a momentous occasion. Minister Beysolow Nyanti led these discussions, which were centered on the advantages of strengthening South-South cooperation.
Minister Beysolow Nyanti spoke during the occasion about the historical ties between the two countries, beginning with the Brig Cora’s arrival of 365 Barbadians in Liberia in 1865. Notable individuals like former presidents Edwin J. Barclay and Arthur Barclay, former Chief Justice Louis Arthur Grimes, former Secretary of State J. Rudolph Grimes, political activist Albert Porte, and journalist Rodney Sieh were among those who contributed to her discussion of the influence of Barbadians on Liberian history.
Minister Nyanti’s staff collaborated with the Barbados High Commission to find possible joint ventures in the weeks preceding the ceremony. This involves a planned collaboration with the National Training Initiative of Barbados to enhance technological and shared knowledge in professional development, hence strengthening the skills of the Liberian workforce.
The goal of the new diplomatic relationship is to further Liberia’s foreign policy objectives, which include seeking to increase trade, investment, and tourism prospects with Caribbean countries. Along with collaboration in the tourism industry, other plans include cultural exchanges centered around festivals and event planning, as well as training for human resources in conjunction with Bajan educational institutions.
In addition, the two countries intend to establish an annual legal lecture series in Louis Arthur Grimes’ name, pool their knowledge of marine resource management to bolster Liberia’s blue economy, and investigate trade agreements that might involve air travel and green energy projects. The goal of these initiatives is to deepen the relationship and promote prosperity between Barbados and Liberia.
