Bajan PM gets Guyana’s second highest national award

President David Granger on Monday conferred Guyana’s second-highest national award to Mia Mottley, the Prime Minister of Barbados.

Mottley was awarded in recognition of her contribution to strengthening the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and representing the economic interests of Caribbean people.

The ceremony was held at the Ministry of the Presidency in Georgetown.

The Order of Roraima was established in 1976 to award outstanding service to the nation. Citizens of foreign nations who are deemed eligible may be appointed as honorary members of the order.

President David Granger, in brief remarks, said to commemorate Guyana’s 50th Anniversary of becoming a Republic, the country pays special honour to Prime Minister Mottley.

“Prime Minister Mottley, you have distinguished yourself as an ardent advocate for the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), you have combined your almost 30 years of political activism with your personal enthusiasm and your countries legendary leadership in regional integration.

“We applaud your leadership, we applaud your stewardship, we applaud your willingness to partner with Caribbean states,” President Granger said.

Mottley became the youngest ever Queen’s Counsel of Barbados. She is an Attorney-at-Law by profession and served as Attorney General and Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados and is now the Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Among her long list of notable achievements, she is also the first female to hold the position of Prime Minister in Barbados and was also the first female Opposition Leader.

She also served as Minister of Barbados for the portfolios of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment, National Security and the Civil Service in her 30-year political career.

In response to receiving the award, Mottley said she looks forward to building on the relationship between the two countries to make the region more secure.

“We are also conscious that we face a number of existential threats most critical of which is the climate crisis and our chronic non-communicable diseases.”

“We do not have the population basis alone, we do not have the expertise or capital alone and we look forward, therefore, working with the people of Guyana to making sure we can make this region more secure in providing a prosperous and stable future for our people,” Mottley said.

Barbados and Guyana were among the CARICOM countries to pioneer the founding of the Caribbean free trade market (CARIFTA), both countries gained their independence from Great Britain and are also founding members of CARICOM.

Guyana and Barbados are also the only two CARICOM countries to establish monuments in honour of the victims of Cubana de Aviación terrorist attack off the coast of Barbados in 1976.

All 73 people on board the aircraft were killed including 11 Guyanese died.

The ceremony was attended by a delegation from Barbados along with Secretary-General of CARICOM, Ambassador Orwin LaRocque, Minister of State Dawn Hastings Williams, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Karen Cummings, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Chairperson of the Advisory Council of the Orders of Guyana, Justice Yonette Cummings- Edwards.