Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, while acknowledging Guyana’s unprecedented economic growth, resilience, and potential, is reminding the nation that economic prosperity hinges on the security and stability of the region. She offered the comments during a virtual address to the Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GGCI) 136^th Annual Awards and Gala on Thursday night.

The statement from the Barbados Prime Minister comes at a time of escalating tension in the Caribbean, as the US heaps pressure on Venezuela with strikes on suspected narco vessels linked to the country. Those strikes have resulted in the death of over 80 suspected drug traffickers. The US also recently seized an oil tanker that was transporting oil from Venezuela.

Prime Minister Mottley, while describing Guyana as “an exceptional bright spark” in a challenging global space, said the region must come to terms with the undeniable reality that the world has changed significantly. She said the region and the world at large can no longer see security as a necessary cost and growth as eventual reward. Such a mindset, Prime Minister Mottley warned, is outdated and possibly dangerous.

“In the current era of our Caribbean civilization, security is not cost. It is in fact the greatest investment that we can make in our economic future for the wellbeing of our citizens, because without stability, prosperity is a mirage,” the Barbadian Minister said.

As she addressed Ministers of Government and leading players in Guyana’s business arena, Prime Minister Mottley called on them to reflect on the fact that security is not limited to domestic crimes and men and women in uniform, but stretches across borders, with regional and global implications.

“We must recognise that our solidarity is not merely a diplomatic legacy, it is a fundamental act of economic self-preservation. We stand, my friends, together to ensure that the rule of law is respected and that this zone of peace is defended from all external pressures and installing threats. And may I say, that a zone of peace does not deny that we may have domestic crime to deal with but it makes the point that as a region we do not want to be in conflict with each other or others to be in conflict in our region, such that our ability to live a fair and dignified life, and prosperous life is compromised,” Prime Minister Mottley said.

A number of local companies and businesses were honoured at the GCCI event.

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