For centuries, we have been a resilient people. We are the descendants of those who refused to accept subjugation, the rightful heirs of revolutionary freedom fighters and visionaries. But today, can we say that we have claimed the full potential of our independence? Or are we still tethered to structures that were never built to serve us?
Barbados CARICOM Youth Ambassador Ashley Lasley
Barbados CARICOM Youth Ambassador Ashley Lasley added her voice to the call for reparatory justice and climate action during her welcome message at Wednesday’s opening ceremony for the 48th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Bridgetown, Barbados.
“Progress also means reparatory justice to heal historical wounds and climate justice to secure our future. We must be bold, demand what is owed, and build a Caribbean that thrives,” asserted the CYA.
Other critical issues highlighted in her remarks included regional integration, affordable air and sea connectivity, crime and violence, food and nutrition security and the Haiti crisis.
Listen to her remarks below:
WELCOME SPEECH FOR THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 48TH REGULAR MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF CARICOM HEADS OF GOVERNMENT
Honourable Heads of Government, esteemed leaders, champions of justice and progress.
Welcome to Barbados! Welcome to the land where the sun meets the sea, where the rhythms of calypso and Tuk Music pulse through our veins, and where the air carries the spirit of resilience, freedom, and unity! Barbados is not just an island in the Caribbean it is a beating heart of our shared destiny.
It is my profound honour to officially welcome you to the Opening Ceremony of the 48th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). This year’s theme, “Strength in Unity: Forging Caribbean Resilience, Inclusive Growth, and Sustainable Development,” is not just a statement it is a powerful call to action.
For centuries, we have been a resilient people. We are the descendants of those who refused to accept subjugation, the rightful heirs of revolutionary freedom fighters and visionaries. But today, can we say that we have claimed the full potential of our independence? Or are we still tethered to structures that were never built to serve us?
Are we truly living up to the promise of regional integration? Have we forged the unity our ancestors envisioned, or are we still navigating the remnants of colonial bureaucracy and fractured ambitions?
I believe true progress will not come from minor adjustments; it will come from shattering old paradigms, rewriting the rules, and not merely following them. Our people demand more, more affordable air and sea connectivity to bring our nations closer, food and nutrition security that is not just a goal, but a reality, real investment opportunities, jobs, and economic liberation for our youth. However, progress also means reparatory justice to heal historical wounds and climate justice to secure our future. We must be bold, demand what is owed, and build a Caribbean that thrives.
Ah-LOO-tah Con-TEE-new-ah! The struggle continues but must it always be a struggle?
And what of Haiti? How is it that after centuries of leading the charge for Black liberation, our Haitian brothers and sisters still suffer under the weight of political turmoil, economic instability, and external interference?
We must not allow any external force – be it developed countries, or otherwise – to dictate the sovereign right of Haiti and other Caribbean islands – to determine their own destinies.
Oo-Boon-too! I am because we are. And I say to you: where there is no justice for one of us, there can be no peace for all of us.
We must also confront the injustices of the global financial system. For too long, we have been shackled by a world order that was never ever designed with Small Island Developing States in mind. The Bridgetown Initiative has laid out a bold vision for financial equity but are we ready to demand its full realisation? We are ready, though to further solidify our ties with Africa, Latin America, and the Global South, not just in sentiment but in trade, policy and collective strength
The George Bridge Declaration calls for action on crime and health security. But how can we be a zone of peace when illicit trade, arms, and economic manipulation continue to destabilise our Region? Security must mean more than just reducing crime. It must ensure the health, prosperity, and well-being of our people.
So, I ask again: What is the ideal CARICOM citizen? A citizen who is empowered. A citizen who moves freely across this Region, unrestricted by outdated policies. A citizen who thrives in the digital economy, harnesses our creative industries and competes regionally and globally.
As Malcolm X once said, “You don’t stick a knife in a man’s back nine inches, pull it out six inches, and call it progress.” The question is whether we are making real progress or simply accepting a longer knife.
This is a defining geopolitical moment. If multilateralism is under threat, then let us be the ones to forge a new path, one where respect, equality, and justice are not just ideals but guarantees.
So, I leave you with this: what legacy will we leave behind? Will history say that we gathered, that we spoke, that we made resolutions? Or will it say that this was the moment when we finally took bold steps to claim our future?
The choice is yours. The future is ours.
Welcome to Barbados. Welcome to an island of possibilities, power, and purpose. May this conference be a catalyst for real change, and may your time here be as inspiring as the vision we are striving to create together.
Oo-Boon-too humanity towards others! Oo-hoo-roo nah , Oo-moh-jah freedom and unity ! Ah-LOO-tah Con-TEE-new-ah! The struggle continues. Welcome!
