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BRIDGETOWN, Barbados March 27, 2019 — The heir to the British throne, Charles, Prince of Wales, during a two-day visit to Barbados, showered praise on the island, last week, for its community activism, championing global environmental issues and inspirational leaders.
His comments came as the prince and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, attended an official reception, held in their honour, last week Tuesday night, at Government House.
Present were Governor General, Dame Sandra Mason; Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley; Chief Justice, Sir Marston Gibson; and a host of dignitaries, including musical icon and Global Ambassador for the Prince’s Trust International, Lionel Richie, and Sir Tom Jones.
The royal couple also met national hero, Sir Garfield Sobers; other cricketing icons, Sir Everton Weekes, Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes; and West Indies cricket captain, Jason Holder.
Stating that they were touched by the “kind welcome” extended on their visit, Prince Charles thanked the Governor General for hosting “this marvellous reception”, recalling that his last visit to these shores was 46 years ago.
His Royal Highness, Prince Charles of Wales, addressing attendees at the Governor General’s Official reception. Photo credit: E. Brookes/BGIS.
Noting that Barbados was making great strides in a number of important global issues, especially those related to climate change, he said: “Barbados…offers an inspirational example, through the remarkable number of women in positions of national leadership, not only the Governor-General and the Prime Minister, but also the leader of the other main political party, as well as the Director of Public Prosecutions and a large number of Permanent Secretaries, Ambassadors and High Commissioners.
“And then, of course, there is arguably the most famous living Bajan of all: from her childhood in Bridgetown, Rihanna has gone on to be one of the most influential recording artists of her generation and a global style icon – or so my son, Harry, tells me, anyway,” he added.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at a service at St. Michaels Cathedral, just before departing Barbados for Cuba, on Sunday morning.
Prince Charles also pointed to the island’s role in championing environmental issues, within the region and globally, for which he shares a passion, noting that Barbados was offering vital leadership on some of the most pressing issues of our time, particularly on climate change and other challenges, facing small island developing states, such as the vital importance of protecting our oceans.
“We have, at last, some might say somewhat belatedly, started to understand just how critical the ocean’s health is to our survival, but also, ladies and gentlemen, how vulnerable it is to climate change and over-exploitation. As the IPCC report so graphically stated, late last year, even 1.5 degrees centigrade of warming will pose catastrophic threats to the ocean’s ecosystems, particularly its coral reefs. As we seem set to achieve at least three degrees warming by the end of the century, we have our work cut out!
“I was, therefore, delighted to learn that the government of Barbados has made significant strides in planning for a Marine Protected Area around the island, which, when enacted, will do much to protect the pristine coastline, upon which so much of your economy depends. Not only would such an area boost economic growth and increase the livelihood of local communities, it will offer a compelling example for others to follow and be an inspiration to other parts of the commonwealth,” he said.
During their visit, the royal couple first met with Governor General, Dame Sandra Mason; the Prince of Wales laid a wreath at The Cenotaph in National Heroes Square; met with Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley; visited the Nidhe Israel Synagogue and Soroptimist Village; and learnt about the island’s emergency preparedness efforts, and the work of the Prince’s Trust International on the island.
His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, laying a wreath at the Cenotaph in National Heroes Square today on his official visit to Barbados. Photo credit: C. Pitt/BGIS.
The Duchess of Cornwall attended a Women of the World Think-In at Ilaro Court; and toured the Derrick Smith Vocational Centre and the Maria Holder Diabetes Centre.
A highlight of the visit came when the royal couple interacted with a cross-section of Barbadians, in a meet and greet, at National Heroes Square and along Roebuck Street.
After attending a church service, on Sunday morning, the Royal couple left Barbados, departing the Grantley Adams International Airport, aboard a Royal Air Force Voyager aircraft, at 12:50 p.m. on their way to Havana, Cuba.
Prior to their departure, the Prince of Wales was given a Royal Salute by a 96-strong detachment of the Barbados Regiment and the Barbados Defence Force’s Band, in Zouave uniform.
Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, and his wife, The Duchess of Cornwall (partially hidden), head to the Royal Air Force Voyager aircraft, on Sunday afternoon, to depart Barbados for Cuba.
The prince and the duchess were greeted on the red carpet by a host of government officials at the Grantley Adams International Airport.
They included Governor General, Dame Sandra Mason; Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley; Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations, Colin Jordan, who was the minister-in-charge of the Royal Visit; Cabinet Secretary, Cecile Humphrey; Chief-of-Staff of the Barbados Defence Force, Colonel Clyde Grannum; Deputy Commissioner of Police, Erwin Boyce; and Chief of Protocol, Hughland Allman.
They are on a 12-day tour of Commonwealth nations, including Cuba and the Cayman Islands.
