At a round table meeting of the Caribbean High Commissioners, 30 May 2024, H.E. Teferi Melesse, the Ethiopian Ambassador, addressed the CARICOM dignitaries and informed them of the role and importance of the Global Black Centre and why that centre was established in Ethiopia.

H.E. Mr Cenio Lewis hosted the meeting at the High Commission of St Vincent & The Grenadines in London. In attendance were the High Commissioners of the different Caribbean countries.

H.E. Teferi Melesse, the Ethiopian Ambassador addressed the CARICOM High Commissioners. He explained that the project to create the Global Black Centre began over three years ago. He said that such an important project “was conceived under the roofs of the Ethiopian Embassy in London.”

He reminded the High Commissioners present of Ethiopia’s victory at Adwa, the creation of the Organisation of African Unity, and in the development of the Non-aligned Movement. Moreover: “Ethiopia’s role in the decolonisation history of Africa makes [him] believe that no other country is better placed to preserve and showcase African culture and history than itself”.

Moreover, he suggested that “the unity between Africa and the CARICOM group and its people-to-people relations could be enhanced by recognizing and joining the initiative created by the Global Black History Heritage and Education Centre.”

Mr Robin Walker, a Vice President of the Global Black Centre, also addressed the CARICOM High Commissioners. He informed them of the origin and evolution of the centre, the vision of the centre, and traced the story up to the creation of the ruling council of the centre headed by H.E. Demeke Makonnen with Dr Julius Garvey as the Brand Ambassador.

Walker ended his address with the call: “The value that we Africans have is determined by our history and heritage. We are offering you an opportunity to support and fully embrace this project.”

Finally, in his final message, the Ethiopian Ambassador called upon members of the CARICOM group to put forward a member to join the ruling council of the Global Black Centre. The CARICOM members agreed to the idea and would come back to the Ambassador in due course.