Foreign Affairs Minister E.P. Chet Greene has urged the country’s diplomats to put national service above political allegiance, reminding them that their primary responsibility is to the people of Antigua and Barbuda rather than any government or political party.
Greene delivered the message on Friday during the 2026 Diplomatic Encounter and Annual Ambassadors’ Meeting at the Sir John E. St. Luce Finance and Conference Centre.
“I ask you to recommit yourselves, not to a government, not to a party but to the service of the people of Antigua and Barbuda,” Greene told ambassadors, high commissioners, honorary consuls and other members of the diplomatic corps.
He stressed that diplomatic appointments should not be treated as positions of personal privilege but as responsibilities requiring dedication, integrity and a commitment to advancing the country’s interests.
“To the diplomats in the room this morning, I say: your posting is not a sinecure. It is a mandate,” Greene declared.
The foreign minister challenged representatives serving both locally and overseas to defend Antigua and Barbuda’s sovereignty, pursue fairness in international relations and strengthen partnerships that can withstand political changes.
“Build alliances that outlast changes in administration,” he urged.
Greene said diplomats stationed in Washington, London, Beijing, New York, Madrid and Havana must assert Antigua and Barbuda’s right to determine its own development path without pressure from more powerful nations.
“Do not allow our small size to be mistaken for silence or insignificance,” he said.
He also called for stronger relationships within CARICOM, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and the wider Commonwealth, emphasizing that the interests of Antiguans and Barbudans must guide diplomatic decisions.
The minister acknowledged the country’s achievements on the international stage, including its hosting of the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States in 2024 and the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
However, he warned that those accomplishments should not lead to complacency, urging diplomats to use the international attention gained to advance issues such as climate justice, reparations and fairer access to development financing.
The gathering was held under the theme “Sovereign Resilience and Global Reform. Small State, Global Stakes: Diplomacy for Justice and Influence.”
St. Lucia’s Minister for External Affairs, Alva Baptiste, was the featured guest speaker.
Greene concluded by reminding diplomats that the country’s international standing depends on their conduct, professionalism and willingness to defend its interests.
“I implore you to represent them with the dignity, integrity, ferocity and the excellence they deserve,” he said.
Source: Antigua News Room FM Greene urges diplomats to put country before government and party.