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International Organization sees bright future for Barbados

WASHINGTON, DC – An international development organization has high hopes for the sustained social, economic and environmental development of Barbados following this week’s sweeping election victory by Prime Minister David Thompson’s Democratic Labour Party (DLP).

Offering his congratulations to the new government, Lelei LeLaulu, president of Counterpart International, said it was his organization’s hope that the spirit of the “Barbados Programme of Action” – a sustainable development roadmap to address the special vulnerabilities of small island states – will be rekindled after being adopted by the international community in Barbados nearly 14 years ago.

“The Barbados Programme of Action put on the global agenda the importance of countries working together to preserve some of the richest biodiversity areas on the planet. Sustainable tourism development was seen by world leaders as a major element of the sustainable development of islands in the Barbados Programme of Action.

“And while Barbados has taken the lead in developing this most important sector of the region’s economy, so much more needs to be done both on the islands across the region and the world,” said LeLaulu, whose organization produces the biannual Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx).

LeLaulu, a native of Samoa and chairman of the Foundation of the Peoples of South Pacific International, recalled that the 1994 United Nations Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States was held in Barbados when the Democratic Labour Party last governed the nation.

Dr. Basil Springer, chairman of regional affiliate Counterpart Caribbean, congratulated the major political parties in Barbados for an incident free election. “Congratulations to Prime Minister David Thompson and the DLP on a convincing victory. Thanks to the Barbados Labour Party for their contribution to development of Barbados over the last three terms in office. Well done to the officials and the people of Barbados for effecting an incident free election process. All these things enhance the image of Barbados as a leading developing country and can only serve to promote Barbados, as an example of “democracy in action”, to the entire world. This is a major asset which we must lever to the fullest,” he said.

Dr. Springer was hopeful that the new DLP administration would mobilise its resources as quickly as possible and seek to use as much of the intellectual capital in Barbados and overseas to propel the nation forward. “Now that the wind has subsided, let us all put our shoulders to the plough, a fitting pledge for Monday’s Errol Barrow Day – a national holiday,” said Dr. Springer.

For more than 42 years, Counterpart International has given people a voice in their own future through smart partnerships, offering options and access to tools for sustained social, economic and environmental development.

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