Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley made a significant impact at the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) in Antigua and Barbuda, showcasing her strong stance on climate change through the Bridgetown Initiative 3.0. Her outdoor sideline event drew unprecedented attention and participation, marking another milestone in her illustrious political career.
The event, themed “Mobilising Capital to Build Prosperity and Resilience in SIDS: Progress on and Next Steps for the Bridgetown Initiative,” stood out among the mostly indoor side events. Downes explained that due to the overwhelming interest in the Bridgetown Initiative 3.0, PM Mottley opted to hold the event outdoors, creating an island-focused town hall atmosphere.
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Alex Downes, Press Secretary to PM Mottley, confirmed the event’s success, stating, “By all reports, it has been the largest side event at the SIDS4 Conference.”
PM Mottley addressed a crowd of nearly 100 people under the blazing sun. Her discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) concerning climate resilience, sustainability, global financing, and justice. Her speech quickly became the highlight of the conference, attracting significant local and international interest.
She urged:
“If we take longer than 18 months to settle the financing deal, the new financing deal, then we compromise our ability to do and use the financing properly to execute the projects, to sustain our civilizations, to stop the level of climate migration, to stop the level of societal erosion, and to be able to play our part to maintain who we are as a people.”
PM Mottley was joined by notable leaders, including Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Prime Minister Jose Ulisses Correia e Silva of Cabo Verde, and President Dr. Hilda Heine of the Marshall Islands, all seeking shade under a palm tree. The event, moderated by Dr. Pepukaye Bardouille, Director of the Bridgetown Initiative and Special Adviser on Climate Resilience, was reminiscent of the traditional streetlight discussions in Barbados.
This impactful side event followed the previous day’s launch of the Bridgetown Initiative 3.0 Consultation, also held at SIDS4 in St. John’s. The launch featured Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua & Barbuda and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, and was moderated by UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan.
PM Mottley has since returned to Barbados to attend a Town Hall meeting at Kensington Oval tonight.
Catch PM Mottley’s speech in the video below:
