The Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, warned the UN General Assembly about a “liability crisis” global and demanded urgent reform of the Security Council and also historical reparations for slavery, in a speech in which he also cited the famous speech that Haile Selassie gave before the same organization in 1963.
In his speech, the Antillean leader resorted to the speech given by the Ethiopian emperor almost exactly ago 63 ago, which was later immortalized by Bob Marley in the song “War”, remembering that as long as there are first and second class citizens among nations, peace will be just a fleeting illusion.
“If we want a UN that truly benefits everyone, so, in essence, We must treat every human being with equal value and deserving of respect. And I can find no better example than the speech of His Majesty Haile Selassie in this same assembly in 1963”, Mottley said..
“Until the philosophy that considers one race superior and another inferior is discredited and abandoned permanently and definitively… there will be war everywhere. Until there are no first and second class citizens in any nation, until the color of a man's skin is no more important than the color of his eyes, there will be war”, the head of state recalled.
Repairs
The event takes on a special dimension in the voice of a representative of the Caribbean, region historically linked to Pan-Africanist resistance and demands for reparations for slavery.
In fact, Mottley related Selassie's words to the above, the demand that the crimes of slavery and colonialism be recognized, addressed and repaired.
He also recalled that Barbados was the place where the first slavery code was enacted in 1661, a legal framework that treated human beings as property and established a model of racial hierarchy that would spread throughout the Atlantic world.
In addition, argued that that code was not a simple historical anecdote, to the basis of the modern capitalist system.
His presentation at the international forum also pointed to the necessary reforms in financial institutions and the severe impact of the climate crisis on developing islands..
Accountability crisis and UN reforms
Mottley also pointed to what he called “liability crisis”, emphasizing that humanity already possesses scientific knowledge, capital and technology to solve poverty, food insecurity and climate change; Thus, the lack of results is not a technical failure, but an ethical and political abandonment of the great powers.
Likewise, stressed that the UN Security Council and multinational financial institutions are obsolete and inequitable, demanding permanent representation for marginalized regions—such as Africa and Small Island Developing States (SIDS)— and insisted on a fair international financial architecture (like the Bridgetown Initiative).
In addition, invoking principles of equal rights and sovereignty, made an urgent call to stop wars and protect vulnerable nations from the disproportionate impact of climate change and geopolitical fragmentation.
