A Mandela-type could effect change in region

THERE is a suggestion that Barbados and the Caribbean need to be more forgiving and as such, the region could do with a Nelson Mandela-type individual to effect that.

That suggestion has been raised by Ambassador Mikael Barfod, Head of the European Delegation
in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, who believes there should be more unity across the region.

“I would postulate that the Caribbean might still need a Mandela because of his forgiving and his uniting character,” the Ambassador said.

He has said this region needs to worry less about the injustices of the past and perhaps focus a bit more, like Mandela had done, in our context, on a viable and inclusive and a very practical solution for the present and for the future.

“I think this is something that is worth thinking about because you can use the spirit of Mandela in many parts of the Caribbean, also here in Barbados as well,” Mr. Barfod reasoned.

In an address to a function on the occasion of World Human Rights Day, the EU official among other things paid tribute to Mandela, the former South African President who died recently and who was buried on Sunday.

“I feel it is astonishing that one man was able to clear up the mess and the evil system in South Africa,” he said of the late Mandela.

“The reconciliation and the even-handedness he showed in all of his actions was really quite remarkable and putting people together to feel like a nation for the first time in South Africa’s history. I have no idea how he did it, but he was able to pull it off,” he noted.

The Ambassador pointed out that unlike a number of other places, Barbados is lucky it has never had a Robert Mugabe and the human rights abuses “and here you can consider yourself lucky”.

He remarked as well that the human rights situation in Barbados is bolstered by some degree of social protection, although there are still issues.

According to him, the way people are treated around the world is far from universal. The Ambassador stated that conflicts, the absence of democracy and extreme poverty are leading to the abuse of human rights in many parts of the world.

“That is something we should keep as headlines for human rights day,” said the Ambassador.

The EU official said that the EU has been very forthright in getting countries to observe proper human rights. He stated that they  have been very supportive of the restoration of democracy in Burma, the organisation for the prohibition of chemical weapons, the destruction of chemical weapons in Syria and good governance and reconciliation throughout Africa.

The EU also holds dialogue with strategic partners in China, Russia South Africa and Nigeria, and fights terrorists and pirates in Africa.

He promised that Europe intends putting more money to help the Caribbean combat drug trafficking. (JB)