As Jamaica marks six decades of sovereign nationhood, the Prime Minister of neighboring Caribbean state Barbados has issued a heartfelt public message of congratulations, highlighting the island’s outsized global cultural footprint and cementing the deep, decades-long diplomatic and people-to-people ties between the two nations.
Sharing the official greeting across social media on Thursday, Mia Mottley extended her well-wishes from both the government and people of Barbados, alongside personal congratulations, to Jamaican communities living on the island and across the global diaspora.
In her statement, Mottley emphasized that Jamaica has left an indelible, unmatched mark on both Caribbean collective identity and global culture. “Your culture has travelled far beyond your shores without ever losing the spirit of home, reminding us of what Caribbean people can achieve when we remain confident in who we are,” she noted.
Mottley went on to underline that the government and people of Barbados hold the long-standing bilateral relationship with Jamaica in high esteem. As small island developing states, both nations share core priorities: safeguarding their unique national and regional identities, and advancing inclusive, long-term progress that lifts the quality of life for all their citizens.
To close her message, Mottley referenced a iconic line from Jamaica’s national anthem – “Justice, Truth be ours forever” – expressing her hope that these guiding values will continue to steer the country’s growth in the years ahead. “Barbados celebrates with you today and wishes you continued progress and prosperity. Happy Independence Day, Jamaica, and may the Eternal Father continue to bless your land,” she concluded.