Barbados and Colombia are entering what officials described as one of the strongest periods in their 54-year diplomatic relationship, with cooperation expanding across education, healthcare, culture, tourism and environmental conservation.

Speaking during Colombia’s National Day celebrations at Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary on Monday evening, Ambassador to Barbados Elizabeth Taylor Jay said the relationship had gained significant momentum since Colombia reopened its embassy in August 2023 after more than two decades without a resident diplomatic mission.

“This step reaffirmed Colombia’s commitment to Barbados and to the greater Caribbean as a region of friendship, cooperation, shared prosperity and common purpose,” she said. “Since then, we have strengthened political, economic, cultural and people-to-people ties with the Government of Barbados, the private sector, academia, civil society and the Colombian community on the island.”