Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados is urging collective action against two escalating threats that jeopardize the region’s stability: the proliferation of misinformation and ongoing issues of citizen insecurity.
Speaking as the outgoing chair of CARICOM during the opening session of the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Montego Bay on July 6, Prime Minister Mottley emphasized that the spread of disinformation, particularly fueled by the misuse of artificial intelligence, presents a significant danger to the democratic fabric of the Caribbean.
“The improper use of AI can sometimes stoke great fear and panic among our citizens,” said while issuing a pressing appeal to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
According to a CARICOM report, the Barbados leader was referring to recent instances where Barbados was reportedly targeted by fake news.
She lamented that such incidents now seem to occur “almost as if this is a daily exercise for our countries,” and called on CARICOM to establish its own verification mechanism to authenticate information, especially in the absence of sufficient action from global technology giants.
“We need our own CARICOM blue tick to validate truth in this Community,” she asserted.
Meanwhile, prior to the opening of the conference, CARICOM leaders convened a historic meeting with the Heads of Judiciary, a gathering praised by Prime Minister Mottley for its significance.
She noted that “it is possible for the judiciary to remain independent but not isolated from the communities in which they operate,” aligning with the views expressed by Jamaica’s Chief Justice.
This approach, she explained, is vital not only for the advancement of Caribbean jurisprudence but also for fostering stability within democracies and addressing the region’s shared challenges of citizen insecurity.
The Barbados PM also highlighted the region’s high costs associated with the United States’ Second Amendment rights, and lauded Jamaica’s proposal for a regional framework on justice and security cooperation, which aligns with the principles outlined in the Needham’s Point and George Bridge Declarations.
“We have a duty to our citizens,” she stated, emphasizing regional responsibility. She also underscored the urgent need for coordinated action on security issues.
Mottley also commended Justice Winston Anderson, who has recently been appointed President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
Editor’s note: The Needleham Point Declaration is defined by the CCJ as “A Declaration embodying experiences, best practices and recommended action adopted by the participants [of the Needleham Point conference in Barbados in 2023] as a commitment to improving criminal justice.”
The George-Bridge Declaration, signed in 2024 in Georgetown Guyana, is described by the CCJ as “anchored on the working definition of Crime and Violence as a Public Health Issue proposed by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the Needham Point Declaration (NPD) guiding policy principles.”
The two Caribbean leaders that are listened to across the Caribbean region and the world are Mia Mötley and Ralph Gonsalves. PM Skerritt is mainly listened to by Dominica 🇩🇲 living in Dominica 🇩🇲 and not really the diaspora if truth be known. Mia and Ralph have passion and compassion it’s clear to see and the people feel it.
The first ‘blue tick’ that needs to be established should be one that reveals the REAL reason why Ross University moved from Dominica to Barbados.
The second ‘blue tick’ that needs to be established should answer the question regarding why some of the advisers of the Barbados PM are the same advisors of the Dominica PM. Is there a shortage of ‘competent’ political, economic & media advisers in the region?
The biggest treat to the advancement of the Caribbean region is undoubtedly the daily CORRUPTION committed by the heads of government. Can any of them honestly declare innocence?
While the masses are catching HELL, these imposters are doing exceptionally WELL! Let’s just juxtapose the life of the con artists(heads) to that of the average citizen.
Heads:
*multiple million dollar bank accounts
*multiple million dollars properties
*multiple luxurious vehicles
*overseas vacation homes
*owned or have controlling shares in multiple businesses
Average Citizen:
*completed dispossessed – owns no land, no house, no vehicle – NOTHING
*cannot afford medical care
* cannot afford even three (3) measly meals per day
*some unemployed for years
*paid starvation wages and salaries
* living from cradle to grave outside the circumference of a comfortable life
These present Heads are ostentatious, autocratic, egotistical, inconsiderate and 100% about self.
*