The Ins & Outs of Barbados 2022

8 At a Glance innovative Welcome Stamp Visa Programme, which invited people to escape COVID-19 lockdown woes in their own country by coming to work remotely in the happy and healthy environment of our island-home. Several thousand digital nomads took up the offer and relocated here, including many who brought their families with them. All of a sudden Bajans found themselves watching TV with great pride as our country became hot news, and our elected leader - affectionately known by all simply as Mia - spoke with affable distinction during interviews with a plethora of top news reporters. Then, in September 2021, the Prime Minister ably demonstrated her international leadership skills at the highest level, by delivering a compelling speech to the United Nations 76th General Assembly in New York. While beseeching world leaders to understand that talking about the ever-increasing global challenges was no longer acceptable and action was the only way forward, her powerful words resonated strongly both inside the auditorium and beyond. Once again, the word Barbados was trending all around the world. Although Barbados is undeniably modest in size, it is also undeniably impressive in stature. Despite being a tiny island with a land space of a mere 166 precious square miles, Barbados has exerted significant influence on international affairs and development throughout its fascinating history, ever since first being settled by the English in 1627. Fast forward 395 years to today, complete with the modern worlds’ far-reaching and all-encompassing telecommunications, and it is fair to say that the new Barbados has been adopted as a popular focal point for global media attention. While Rihanna has been proudly representing the beloved land of her birth every step of the way during her unprecedented 17-year journey to world stardom as an entertainer, businesswoman and philanthropist, in the last two years the country itself has also been making standout headlines. In particular, our Prime Minister, the Honourable Mia Mottley, QC, MP, has been widely featured on a host of the world’s leading TV, radio and social media news channels. It all began in June 2020 when Barbados captured the attention of the world by introducing the Barbados Steps into the Global Spotlight by Keith Miller Prince Charles with Prime Minister Mia Mottley at COP 26 Swearing in of President Dame Sandra Mason