During a press conference organized on Friday, March 15, Bridgetown-based organization Caribbean Against Apartheid in Palestine (CAAP), urged Barbados to acknowledge Palestine as a sovereign state. The organization further called on the country to reassess its long-standing relationship with Israel in light of what has been acknowledged by Prime Minister Mia Motley as a “televised genocide” in Gaza.
The entreaty comes with reportedly over 30,000 Palestinian men, women, and children having lost their lives in since the recent Israel-Hamas War began in October 2023, after a surprise attack by the group Hamas reportedly resulting in the death of 1200 Israelis and foreigners.
With no apparent end to the situation, CAAP secretary Lalu Hanuman underscored the need for the Barbados government to take a principled stance against the genocide.
“We are calling on the Barbadian government, firstly, to recognize the state of Palestine immediately, and secondly, to, at the very least, suspend diplomatic relations with Israel…”
“Barbados has recognized Kosovo, which is a break-away province from Serbia, which is not recognized by the United Nations, but yet, it so far, has refused to recognize Palestine,” said Hanuman.
Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Motley spoke in plain terms at the recent 8th CELAC meeting concerning the alarming and “inexplicable” happenings in Gaza, categorically condemning the escalating violence. Yet Hanuman averred, “Talk is cheap. Action is what we want.”
Citing the four nations within the bloc that have not recognized Palestine, namely Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and The Bahamas, he remonstrated with what he terms would be a double standard if the two-pronged approach of recognition for Palestine and suspension of diplomatic relations with Israel is not implemented across the board in CARICOM territories.
“None of the CARICOM states would have considered having diplomatic relations with apartheid South Africa,” he asserted.
He pointed to the example of Belize, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Cuba which have drawn a hard line, not only recognizing Palestine but also either suspending or severing ties with Israel.
Hanuman stressed his organization’s support for CARICOM’s request that the UN General Assembly hold an emergency session under Resolution 377A and invoke “Uniting for Peace”. Under this, there will be a mass suspension of diplomatic relations, applying pressure on Israel to effect a ceasefire.
However, he added that this resolve needs to “begin at home,” with a unified approach by CARICOM actors to effectively call for a resolution to what CARCIOM has termed ” a cycle of violence”. This, according to CAAP, begins with the recognition of Palestine and the suspension of diplomatic relations with Israel across CARICOM lines.
“It’s time we stood on our feet and did what needs to be done”, he asserted.
Palestine’s Ambassador to the Caribbean, Dr. Linda Sobeh Ali, who also addressed the press conference, urged Barbados and the rest of the region, to align themselves with the principles of justice. Declaring that the situation is “a war against humanity.”
Specifically, she made an impassioned plea to the Barbadian government, and CARICOM leaders as a whole, to “be on the right side of history.”
@Times up etc, the Israel they talking about today has nothing to do with scripture you referenced. The land was given to European converts to Judaism who originated from the Khazars(Jewish) in 1948, complete with reparations. Nothing to do with anything biblical.
Ridiculous. the palestinians through their leadership have rejected every offer of land and statehood made by Israel over the years. Their current misery is of their own doing. They prefer to live in hatred of Israel than make responsible choices for them and their children.
When the Jews evacuated the Gaza strip in 2005, they left some very productive greenhouses behind as a gift to the palestinians. That had been part of a vibrant flower growing business. you know what the palestinians did? They destroyed the greenhouses. and they want to blame others for their misery?
By the way, these so-called palestinian people are actually mostly descendants of Arabs who moved to Israel to work for the British when England controlled the area. They have no real historical connection to the land. They are interlopers. They don’t want statehood either, all they want to do is destroy Israel. And Israel is right to defend itself.
So hamas go and attack Israel now they there playing victim . Take ally spanking . Maybe if u all had spend less money building tunnels and storing and building weapons you all would have been able to do better for your people. But u all descided to hide like cowards in tunnels and leave your people to suffer the brunt of the rewards for your attacks on Israel .
If u all wanted any good for ur people maybe the money u guys spent on tunnels and weapons u would have been able to use that to help out the Palestinian people.
The people had water, jobs , electricity, hospitals ,stores shelter and schools . But out of hard head behaviour you all descided the best thing was to attack a hornets nest and then hide in ur tunnels leve your people exposed to the response and then cry victim .
This could have been avoided but you chose not to.
@The real lin clown
Your dam clown. Hamas is getting no spanking. Hamas will never be defeated. Innocent Palestinians are the ones being killed.
The Europeans took the black man from Africa and made him slaves in the Caribbean.The European Union,the USA and the Israelites are making the Palistanians slaves in their own land.The so called christians are so wicked,they accept everything in the Bible without question.Thou shall not kill,but it is ok to kill innocent men,women and children in the nake of God.That is what a Christian told me.
All I can say is that; it’s praying time. The day of blackness and the level of calamity which is predicted in scripture which will make Gaza look like a children’s playground is coming; when men will run to the rocks asking to covered them from the wrath of God; that day is coming. What we have been witnessing in Gaza had been long predicted; but most people are not aware of anything that is written in the Holy Bible. But the prophet said that it’s gonna be a gloomy day for those who dwell on earth. The last and only ally of Israel 🇮🇱 (which is America 🇺🇸) will cease to support Israel before our Lord steps in. Israel is already surrounded by those nations predicted in scripture. Russia is now at her doorsteps in Syria 🇸🇾. China China will soon follow. Man has become exceedingly wicked and “Anti-God” so God is bringing down the curtain. “God rules in the affairs of Men.” Amen. Pray and ask God for His mercy. Leaders are placed on the chest board to fulfill their tasks as pharaoh did.
Brainwashed is a joke.All those guys have to do is read.The Palestinians are not terrorists,they are defending themselves and their land which is gradually being taken from them by the terrorist state of America and Israel.The Americans and NATO started the War in Ukraine.After the 1962 Cuban missile crisis the Americans and Russians had an agreement not to extend NATO on the Russian border.The Americans with the support of NATO advised Ukraine to join NATO and to deploy western weapons on the Ukraine,Russian border.Russia retaliated.The Palestians attacked Israel in self defense.The Palestinians are SLAVES on their land and at their homes.Here in Dominica we have fools supporting the murder of 30,000 innocent Palestinian men,women and children by Israel.
Islands like Dominica will NEVER do that because we like free things too much. IsraAid, the Israeli donor agency is here and they have given free stuff to various sectors with the help of government. So, for a nation that refuses to do anything for itself unless we getting freeness, Dominica will never admonish the State of Israel. Shameful we are really. Disgustingly shameful. and we call ourselves independent.
star boy went and put ban on Yemenis.wap wap wap..Ireland put restriction on Dominican…sos is always on the begging side
If you want to recognize Palestine fine, might as well boycott everything Israel made technologically which is used daily in each of our lives. The development of Microsoft Windows, Intel computer chips, instant messaging, the cellular telephone and many medical devices all have significant research roots in Israel.
They assemble stuff, part of reparations alright. China and many others assemble stuff too.
We have a situation going on in our Caribbean neighbor Haiti and caribbean people worrying themselves about Israel and Palestine? Those people have their longstand ethnic conflict to work out. That has nothing to do with us
When you don’t have power nor money hardly anyone cares about you. The Palestinians living in Gaza and the West Bank are experiencing this right now.
The Zionist State (erroneously referred to as Israel) has slaughtered well over 20 000 children and babies. Hundreds of pregnant women have met a similar fate as the Zionists have indiscriminately bombed hospitals, ambulances, schools, refugee camps and residential homes.
Most CARICOM countries have either turned a blind eye or vehemently lend support to this unimaginary, genocidal actions. Why? They get grants, scholarships for their students and various assistance from this apartheid country.
God does NOT sleep neither does He love ugly. The day of reckoning is coming no matter how long it takes. Peace and Freedom to the Palestinian People.
I agree. what they’re doing is wrong. these people deserve the right to exist just as they claim they do
Hamas should have known not to shogone kaka and later says kaka smelling……
@Brain Damage
Your brain is damaged. Go visit a doctor. Israel and America are killing innocent people in Palestine, not Hamas militants.
@Hello…
You did not read, nor hear, nor see what the terrorists Hamas did on the 7th of Oct. last year… thats the result taking place rght now…
My brain is in better shape than yours….
.
your brain is damage..how long have Israel slapped the Palestinians..go learn history
so hamas starts a war and now that the fed up Israel is having absolutely no mercy and hamas is loosing
the Palestinians are now crying fowl?
wow nice way to play the victim
before the october 7th massacre the gaza strip got free water and elec from Israel and also were regularly crossing the border into Israel for work
gaza was beautiful and well built up universities and schools and hospitals.then they thought it would be a good idea to attack there neighbor and kill over 1700 and take over 200 hostages .
now they getting annihilated they playing the victim,
they still have not released the hostages
what they expect?
my granny always told me . if u know its a bee hive and throwing a rock at it is gonna make the bees attack you , then u deserve what you get if you go and trouble them
ADMIN: The death toll in the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel is closer to 1,200 people: https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-revises-death-toll-from-oct-7-hamas-assault-dropping-it-from-1400-to-1200/
@MAGWA CA
Your comment is false, wicked and even mischievous. I forgive you though, because you are uninformed. Hamas did not start any war. Similarly Russia did not start any war in Ukraine. It was started by America, (the most wicked, satanic, dangerous and destructive nation on planet earth). Hamas was reacting to Israel’s brutality on the Palestinian people. So you simply don’t know what you are saying my friend.You listen to too much fake information from Western media. Israel is a terrorist and murderous state, and its aided and abetted by America. Those two combined, are unleashing genocide on the Palestinians, and i condemn it.
For you edification HAMAS can never be defeated. Hamas is an ideology…
Exactly and without the iron dome all the 1,000s of rockets Hamas sent almost daily over into Israel, what do you think would happen if they all landed on Israel. I’ve watched the uncensored and brutal video Hamas posted they went to slaughter and kill even non Israelis, I saw them slaughter Asian workers who came into Israel just for work so don’t come and say it’s a resistance against Israel alone
@MAGWA CA – Well done. I see you are able to sift right through the propaganda & distortions spread by those elements out there who may be covertly and/or overtly sympathetic to Hamas.
Make no mistake, there will ONLY be ONE State in the land area referred to as Palestine & that will be the STATE OF ISRAEL.
Woe to those who seek to fight against Israel.
P.S. – Somebody should tell Hamas to stop building & hiding military infrastructure among the civilian populace that it claims to love.
@Channel 1
Pure garbage.You wicked heartless hypocrite, the killing of innocent women and children means nothing to your satanic soul.
That is very good DNO,educate those blue do nothing ignorant aholes.The Israeelites have been murdering innocent Palestinian men,women and children for decades with the help of USA the and the European union.The Israelites have made slaves of the Palestinian people on their own land,They forcefully occupied Palestinian land.That is why MAGWA CA and Brain Damage are supporters of UWP,aholes they are,go,do some reading to educate yourself.
@Lin Clown
I agree with you. It’s very sad that those two Brain Damage and MAGWA CA can make those comments, but it’s not surprising. They must have been brainwashed by Western media. Whatever they hear they believe. They do the same when they are commenting on the Russia Ukraine war.
but your pm put ban on Yemenis..the island slapped the sos..you are a real a..I wish to play deeper hole with you in the sea…I sure wornt make you walk on land again