BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — British Foreign Office Minister Baroness Anelay stressed the importance of a modern partnership based on shared interests during her first visit to Barbados on 7 October.

During the one-day visit Anelay met with Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and the leader of the opposition, Mia Mottley. The minister confirmed the UK’s commitment to the Caribbean and the strong relationship with Barbados built on long-standing connections.

Together with the minister of culture, sports and youth, Stephen Lashley, Anelay took the opportunity to meet young people taking part in the Prince’s Trust International ‘Get Into’ programme. Prince’s Trust International is a charity recently established in Barbados with the aim of helping disadvantaged young people gain vital skills to move into education, training or work.

Anelay congratulated Prince’s Trust International on the launch of the programme and spoke to the young people about the skills they were developing on the course.

Anelay ended her visit with a tour of the Regional Security System (RSS) Air Wing and had a briefing from law enforcement officials on the work they are doing to combat the threat from organised and transnational crime.

Speaking at the end of her visit, Anelay said: “I was delighted to have the opportunity to visit Barbados and witness at firsthand how our two countries are working together to address a range of global challenges. I was particularly pleased to meet the young people participating in the Prince’s Trust International Get Into programme and to visit the staff at the Regional Security System (RSS) Air Wing. Both are excellent examples of UK-Barbados cooperation, showing how we can work together to the benefit of both our countries.”

Lashley said: “We are very proud of our partnership with Prince’s Trust International and welcome Baroness Anelay’s support. With one programme currently running and one more to start in the following weeks, this programme adds to the existing complement of diverse programmes currently offered by the youth division of the ministry. By joining forces, we are in fact able to offer our youth even more opportunities for their total development. This certainly complements programmes such as ‘Endless Possibilities’ and ‘Youth Mainstreaming Programme’.”

IMAGE: Baroness Anelay (third left) and Minister Stephen Lashley with Susan Martin (right) of the Prince’s Trust International, ministry officials and trainees on the “Get Into” programme