St Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has urged the removal of visa requirements between African and Caribbean nations, calling it a vital step in deepening historical and cultural ties.
Speaking at a landmark gathering in Shashemene, Ethiopia, Gonsalves said visa-free travel should move beyond bilateral deals to a wider regional framework. Reflecting on his 2005 visit to Ethiopia, he described the initiative as transformative and linked it to ongoing calls for reparatory justice.
The meeting marked the first time a large Caribbean delegation gathered in Shashemene, a site central to the Rastafari movement. Ethiopia’s longstanding offer of 500 acres for Rastafari repatriation was cited as a symbol of the enduring connection between the two regions.“We will succeed, as sure as the sun rises,” Gonsalves declared.
