Tackling climate change is no easy feat and Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley is imploring her regional counterparts to show greater solidarity in tackling that issue as well as the global food crisis brought on by the war in Ukraine.

While condemning the war that began in February, and calling for an end to the conflict, Mottley lamented that Barbados and the Caribbean continue to suffer adding that “there is nothing to be gained by a machismo approach to war”.

“What is needed now is for the world to build peace, and build peace in a way that can minimize the further loss of lives, to build peace in a way that can minimize the damage and injury that is felt thousands of miles away from the action of war in Ukraine. Whether we like it or not, the world has been affected in every respect.

Every household that has had to pay more for gas and diesel, more for goods and more food, of us, have been affected, regrettably, by this awful war. I hope that people will take a commonsense approach to bring peace, such that we may bring stability first to our people and thereafter, prosperity,” she stated.

Mottley made these comments on Tuesday while addressing the launch ceremony of the Caribbean-EU Partnerships 2021-2027 ahead of the EU/CARIFORUM Ministerial Meetings, on Wednesday in Bridgetown.

“What we want is a platform of solidarity based on mutual respect and friendship as one set of people to another.

If we can do that, I believe we can be equal to the task of the moment and we can ensure that what right now seems an impossible scenario may not necessarily be solved but there will be mitigation of the level of suffering that will take place,” the Bajan Pm told the EU officials.

She stressed that it was important for countries with shared values to find a platform for partnership and development.

“Small countries have limited options at this point and therefore, for us, words such as solidarity and justice still matter. I find myself referring to these things more and more because no country on its own can stop the existential crisis of climate,” Mottley contended.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Dr. Carla Barnett while noting that the development path of the Caribbean “is unsteady, at best”, called on the EU to give the region greater support.

“Small, vulnerable economies like ours cannot survive alone. Partnerships remain a core component of our development needs,” said Barnett, who also emphasized the need for increased funding, noting that achieving the sustainable development goals required meaningful sustainable development and greater support from the multilateral environment.

The European Commission on Tuesday night launched the Caribbean-EU Partnerships 2021-2027 based on the new EU-ACP Cotonou Agreement and form part of the EU’s €300 billion infrastructure investment strategy, which was designed to deliver sustainable and high-quality projects that take into account the developmental needs of partner countries.

Some €36.5 million also be made available for the region to help build food security.