Senator Chris Sinckler, the newly appointed Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, has committed to maintaining a steady, principle-based approach to Barbados’s international relations. Returning to the role after a sixteen-year absence, Sinckler emphasized that his leadership would prioritize continuity, professional diplomacy, and the strategic enhancement of the nation’s global stature.
Upon arriving at the ministry’s Culloden Road headquarters, Minister Sinckler was greeted by senior officials including Director of Foreign Affairs Paula Byer, Permanent Secretary Joy-Ann Skinner, and Director General Donna Forde. He immediately praised the technical expertise and disciplined organization of the foreign service staff, acknowledging the serious responsibility of representing Barbados on the world stage. He described his return as both a privilege and a homecoming.
Outlining his vision, Sinckler stated that Barbados’s foreign policy would remain anchored in its long-established philosophical positions, avoiding abrupt shifts while adapting pragmatically to evolving global dynamics. He declined to comment specifically on sensitive regional issues like US-Venezuela tensions, instead reaffirming a broader doctrine of principled stances combined with strategic flexibility to secure benefits for the Barbadian people.
The Minister highlighted that the ministry’s mandate extends beyond traditional state-to-state diplomacy. In today’s digitally interconnected world, a critical function is to help citizens understand how international events impact their daily lives and to identify emerging opportunities for the nation.
Senator Sinckler positioned Barbados’s external engagement within the wider global movement toward sustainability, crediting Prime Minister Mia Mottley, whom he called the country’s ‘first diplomat,’ for her international leadership. His role, he explained, will be to support her agenda by advancing governmental policies and分担ing the workload necessary for national transformation.
Reflecting on his transition from roles at international financial institutions like the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank back to government, Sinckler noted that the core objective remains unchanged: development work focused on improving lives and livelihoods.
He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Mottley for her confidence in reappointing him to public service, a sphere he had believed he had left. His first major international engagement will be the upcoming CARICOM summit in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis.
A veteran politician, Sinckler first entered Cabinet after the 2008 general election and has held several high-profile portfolios, including Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs. After his party’s defeat in the 2018 elections, he exited elective politics until Prime Minister Mottley invited him to join a jobs and investment council in 2020, paving the way for his return to a central government role.