Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, presents a gift to his visiting counterpart from Panama, Janaina Tewaney Mencomo, following a recent courtesy call at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. (S. Forde-Craigg/BGIS)
Creating closer ties between Barbados and Panama in the areas of trade, culture, and heritage tourism was the main point discussed during a recent bilateral engagement.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, welcomed the opportunity to further develop the relationship between the two countries when he was paid a courtesy call at his office, by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Panama, Janaina Tewaney Mencomo.
In welcoming Ms. Mencomo to Barbados, Mr. Symmonds noted that enhancing ties with Panama falls in line with Government’s strategy to establish and build out relationships with countries in Latin America.
The visit by the Panamanian Foreign Minister follows the announcement back in February that the Cabinet of Barbados had approved the request for Panama to establish a diplomatic mission in Barbados.
Minister Mencomo indicated that details are still being fleshed out but underscored that the political will is there. She emphasised that Panama and Barbados would be forever linked, given that thousands of Barbadians, mainly men, worked on the construction of the Panama Canal and helped to influence the culture in Panama City, notably the music.
Minister Symmonds agreed that strong ancestral and cultural links exist that have bound the two countries and added that at a time when Barbados had limited economic activity and job prospects, the economy was bolstered by the remittances of those who went to work on the Canal.
Other areas discussed during the meeting include the climate crisis and its impact on the Canal; how the crisis is affecting trade and the cost of living; and positioning Barbados as an aviation and cargo hub linking the southern Caribbean and Panama.
Panama, located in Central America, is referred to as “the bridge between two worlds” due to it being opened to traffic on August 15, 1914.
Barbados established diplomatic relations with the Republic of Panama in August 1975.
Also present at the courtesy call were Barbados’ Ambassador to Panama, Ian Walcott; Senior Foreign Service Officer, Dr. Ricardo Kellman; Foreign Service Officers, SherryLisa Waldron and Davion Sealy; Ambassador-designate to Barbados, Xiomara Perez; Chargè D’Affairs, Bolivar Jack Barrios; Director of Pro Panama, Carmen Gisela Vergara; and Advisor and Chief of Staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Flor Flores Tello.
