Prime Minister Mia Mottley used her victory rally to urge Barbadians to “fall in love with our country again”, calling for unity, responsibility and renewed national purpose after Wednesday’s third consecutive 30–0 election win.
Addressing thousands gathered at the National Botanical Gardens in the St Michael North East constituency, Mottley said the moment was deeply personal, noting that she had long wanted to host a victory celebration in her own constituency but had been unable to do so in 2018 and 2022.
“When we won on Wednesday night, I didn’t have to think twice about where you would come,” she told the thousands of red-clad supporters who had gathered. “I ask you all, not just those of us in red, to fall in love with our country again.”
The rally, held on Valentine’s Day, blended celebration with reflection, as the Prime Minister pivoted from partisan triumph to national responsibility.
“To the young people… it is your country that we are building,” she said. “Treat it with tender care and attention because if you do not, you will not get to enjoy the country that your parents and grandparents have enjoyed.”
Mottley stressed that democratic mandates must be matched by citizen responsibility, reminding Barbadians that “no one owes us a living.”
“We need to work together. We need to do the best that we can do [at our jobs],” she said, urging citizens to look out for “our brothers and our sisters, our godchildren, our grandchildren and our neighbours.”
She recommitted her administration to fighting poverty and injustice.
“We commit to continuing to stop poor people from being poor. We commit to fight injustice wherever it is,” she declared.
The Prime Minister also pledged to expand opportunities for young people to prevent outward migration, strengthen partnerships with trade unions and businesses, and continue democratic reforms.
“I told you in 2018 that we would not abuse it,” she said, referencing the party’s overwhelming mandate. “We reduced the powers of a Prime Minister, and we broadened and deepened our democracy and we will do it again.”
She acknowledged ongoing national challenges, including traffic congestion, gun crime and voter apathy, while maintaining that turnout would have been higher had the opposition mobilised more effectively.
“There are many things that we will address, from traffic to gun crime,” she said, adding that transformation remains the government’s mission.
“Our mission is to transform Barbados and to make ourselves capable of delivering world-class service and capable of being one of the strongest and most resilient small states on the planet earth.”
As she closed, Mottley invited her newly elected Members of Parliament to join her on stage, turning the rally back into celebration, but not before anchoring the victory in a message of unity.
“The most important love on Valentine’s Day is self-love,” she said. “Look in the mirror… and love who you see.” (SM)
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