Pro-Palestinian campaign group calls on Barbados to recognize State of Palestine

“Barbados condemns the heinous terrorist attacks perpetrated on Israel on October 7th, 2023 which caused over a thousand to lose their lives and hundreds to be taken hostage, including women and children. Those responsible for these devastating violent acts must be brought to account.

“We express our alarm at the deteriorating situation in the Middle East and our deep concern for the safety and security of the people of Israel and Palestine.”

Barbados has warned that the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza threatens to spill over to the entire Middle East with catastrophic results for the people of that region, global peace and the already fragile multilateral order.

It suggested that if the conflict continues unabated it will also have devastating impacts on vulnerable populations everywhere.

“The international community of sovereign states and their peoples must therefore unite and prevent the situation from any further deterioration. The UN Security Council must act urgently and in unison,” the statement urged.

Barbados said such an immediate ceasefire, as urged by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, is essential in order to ensure the protection of the lives and well-being of the innocent civilians of Israel and Gaza.

“Even with the best intentions and the most sophisticated weapons, any aerial bombardment in Gaza, an area smaller than Barbados, but with seven times our own population, is bound to have devastating effects on civilians. The death of thousands of Palestinians is testimony to this,” Bridgetown declared.

Barbados also called for the immediate, unconditional release of all hostages and the provision of humanitarian assistance in all its dimensions to the people of Gaza.

“A sustainable peace must be the world’s singular focus and it is only with dialogue that this can be achieved,” the statement concluded.

Hanuman said his association has for several years advocated for the Barbados government to officially recognise the Palestinian State.

“We are at a loss as to why Barbados refuses to do so while 11 out of the 15 CARICOM member states have recognised the State of Palestine, have engaged with the Palestinian people in areas of development and cooperation, and stood by them in the face of the aggressive, brutal, and violent apartheid policies of the Israeli state,” the CAAP spokesman asserted.

Hanuman urged Prime Minister Mottley to accord Palestine due honour and recognition as most countries around the world have done.

“Nothing less can be expected of our country that stubbornly stands on the side of justice, fairness, and freedom for all peoples,” Hanuman said. “All civilian lives matter whether it be on a slave ship or in Soweto or in Kyiv or the Kfar Aza Kibbutz or in Gaza City.” (EJ)