PM Mottley Urges Broadcasters to Embrace Role as Nation Builders

Speaking at the Fifty-sixth Annual General Assembly of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU), Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley called on regional broadcasters to embrace their responsibility as nation builders and preservers of Caribbean identity in the face of global pressures.

Mottley reminded delegates that the region’s story must be told by its own people. “Those who know me would know that I said 31 years ago, upon becoming Minister of Culture, I started a refrain that we in this region have a story to tell, and unless we tell that story, we would betray the legacy of resilience of our ancestors. But more importantly, we would undermine the capacity of our people to build a future that is reflective of our image and that is anchored by our values,” she said.

The Prime Minister reflected on the impact of external media on Caribbean societies, noting that “our region is open, open to tourists, open to information. More information comes from outside than comes from within. And more people visit us from outside than come from within.” She warned that this imbalance, compounded by the speed of modern communication, has created “a tsunami” of external influence that risks eroding regional values.

Mottley stressed the importance of cultural preservation through broadcasting. Citing the music of the Mighty Sparrow, she questioned how many stations in the region had showcased his work in this, the year of his 90th birthday. “You as broadcasters cannot only focus on profit, which you must. But you have to accept your responsibility as nation builders and preservers of memory,” she declared.

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Turning to the issue of democracy and disinformation, Mottley warned of the destabilising effects of fake news and the manipulation of artificial intelligence. “The presence of fake news, benignly created or maliciously created, it matters not, but its capacity to destabilize individuals, communities, and countries is now very, very real,” she said. She proposed the creation of a “regional truth and verification mechanism” to safeguard Caribbean societies against misinformation.

She urged broadcasters to move beyond compliance with local content regulations and adopt a deliberate commitment to cultural education. “If not you, if not now, when? The ball reality is that I chose the Mighty Sparrow, but I could as easily have spoken about the art of the region,” she said, emphasizing the urgency of amplifying regional culture through media.

Mottley also acknowledged the economic challenges broadcasters face from global advertising consolidation and social media dominance but insisted that their role remained essential to the survival of Caribbean societies. “If we allow you to fall, then the next one that will fall is the nation state,” she cautioned.

The CBU’s assembly, which includes the Thirty-sixth CBU Media Awards Gala and the induction of new members into the Hall of Fame, continues this week under the theme “Caribbean Media and the Orange Economy”.