Monrovia, Liberia – At a historic signing ceremony in Accra, Ghana, the Republic of Liberia and Barbados formally established diplomatic ties. The agreement was signed by Her Excellency Sara Beysolow Nyanti, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia, and Her Excellency Juliette Babb-Riley, the Head of Mission of the Barbados High Commission, on behalf of Barbados.
The event is an important milestone that comes after conversations between the Barbados High Commission and the Liberian Embassy in Accra. These discussions, chaired by Minister Beysolow Nyanti, centered on the advantages of strengthening South-South cooperation.
Minister Beysolow Nyanti discussed the historical ties between the two countries at the occasion, beginning with the Brig Cora’s arrival of 365 Barbadians in Liberia in 1865. She discussed the contributions made by eminent individuals like former presidents Edwin J. Barclay and Arthur Barclay, former Chief Justice Louis Arthur Grimes, former Secretary of State J. Rudolph Grimes, political activist Albert Porte, and journalist Rodney Sieh, as well as the influence of Barbadians on Liberian history.
The Barbados High Commission and Minister Nyanti’s staff collaborated to find possible joint ventures in the weeks preceding the ceremony. One of the suggested partnerships with Barbados’s National Training Initiative aims to enhance the skills of the Liberian workforce by utilizing technology and sharing information in professional development.
The new diplomatic connections support Liberia’s foreign policy objectives, which include strengthening links with Caribbean countries and looking for chances for investment, trade, and tourism. In addition, collaboration in the tourism sector is envisaged, encompassing training of human resources in collaboration with Bajan educational establishments and cultural exchanges pertaining to festivals and event coordination.
In addition, the two countries intend to pursue trade agreements, including air transport connections and green energy initiatives, and honor the legacy of Louis Arthur Grimes through an annual legal lecture series. They also seek to share experience in marine resource management to promote Liberia’s blue economy. The goal of these initiatives is to deepen Barbados’ and Liberia’s shared prosperity.
