It was a United Nations vote on Palestine whose result attracted attention in almost every member state, Barbados included.
The measure: a resolution in the General Assembly to grant non-member observer status to Palestine.
But when time came for countries to vote and tell the world where they stood on the intractable issue, Barbados, the Bahamas and Haiti joined with 38 other nations in abstaining.
By a vote of 138 in favour to nine against with 41 abstentions, the world body accorded Palestine non-member observer status, just like the Vatican. The decision angered Israel and has drawn a sharp objection from the Obama Administration. But Barbados, The Bahamas and Haiti declined to say “yea” or “nay”, thus becoming the only Caribbean nations to abstain.
Asked afterwards about his country’s stance, Joseph Goddard, Barbados’ UN ambassador, didn’t give a reason but said simply that CARICOM’S permanent representatives at the UN had decided before the vote that each country could take its own stance by voting for, against or abstaining. The three countries took the last option.
