Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment, Urban and Rural Development, Christopher Sinckler??and??Barbados’ Ambassador-designate to the People’s Republic of China, Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford, interacting during the briefing session.
It is hoped that when Barbados’ Ambassador-designate to the People’s Republic of China, Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford, assumes that post next month, that relations between Barbados and China would be "mutually beneficial to our people and would become richer and stronger."
This desire was expressed by Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment, Urban and Rural Development, Christopher Sinckler, during a courtesy call at Parliament Buildings today, where he briefed the Ambassador-designate on a number of social policy issues.
Sir Lloyd, who is currently meeting with top policy makers to hear directly their expectations, and the major areas they would want to engage in with the Chinese, endorsed the critical importance of the social sector to Barbados as a developing country.
This, he maintained, was key, because it related directly to people and the kind of living that could be achieved and enjoyed in our country.
Mr. Sinckler told Sir Lloyd he would have the opportunity to interface with the Government and people of China about social services, in particular those delivered to persons considered to be either at, or below the poverty line, the elderly, or individuals marginalised, either through HIV/AIDS, infection or disability.
He stressed that his ministry had been trying to reform and strengthen its programmes and institutions, in order to ensure that "Barbados becomes the number one developing country in the world and that we maintain that status… [through] the actions that are necessary…"
Minister Sinckler also underscored the importance of continuing the harmonious relations which have existed between Barbados and China since the mid-1970s. "We have been committed all along to the one-China policy… and we have seen the benefits of that relationship," he underscored.
The Minister of Social Care emphasised that with China now being a major global player in the economic sphere, and "well well on the way" to doing so in the social sector, "there is quite a bit that we can learn from each other".