There are some who stand tall
and stand out no matter where
they are from—whether a large,
densely populated country or a
small island nation. Prime Min-
ister Mia Mottley of Barbados is
one such person. Bold, fearless,
and possessing a great intellect
and wit, the Prime Minister is a
brilliant politician who knows how
to shake things up.
Since she was a young woman
growing up in the Caribbean, Mia
Mottley has always cared deeply
about critical issues impacting
the world. From poverty to debt
to climate change, she is a vocal
advocate on the world stage for
responsible stewardship of our
planet, so that nations large and
small and people rich and poor
can survive and thrive together.
Mia Mottley
Striding boldly
BY NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA
Pakistan, a nation of more than
220 million, is too big to fail yet 220 million, is too big to fail yet
too unpredictable to ignore. With too unpredictable to ignore. With
a fragile economy in a hostile a fragile economy in a hostile
neighborhood, the country was neighborhood, the country was
already walking a tightrope before already walking a tightrope before
the ouster of Prime Minister Imran the ouster of Prime Minister Imran
Khan’s government by a unifi ed Khan’s government by a unifi ed
opposition backed by the army. opposition backed by the army.
Today, with world markets wreak-Today, with world markets wreak-
ing havoc on its economy and ing havoc on its economy and
civil-military relations again under civil-military relations again under
strain, Pakistan appears a hair’s strain, Pakistan appears a hair’s
breadth away from its next crisis.breadth away from its next crisis.
Enter Umar Ata Bandial, the Enter Umar Ata Bandial, the
polite and understated Chief Justice polite and understated Chief Justice
of Pakistan—and antidote to the ris-of Pakistan—and antidote to the ris-
ing temperatures. In early April, the ing temperatures. In early April, the
Supreme Court of Pakistan, led by Supreme Court of Pakistan, led by
Bandial, overturned Prime Minister Bandial, overturned Prime Minister
Khan’s move to dissolve Parliament, Khan’s move to dissolve Parliament,
declaring it “unconstitutional.” As declaring it “unconstitutional.” As
other institutions lock horns in other institutions lock horns in
a battle for advantage ahead of a battle for advantage ahead of
impending elections, the court impending elections, the court
looms large as the fi nal arbiter. looms large as the fi nal arbiter.
Widely respected for his personal Widely respected for his personal
integrity, the Columbia- and integrity, the Columbia- and
Cambridge- Cambridge- educated jurist bears educated jurist bears
the heavy mantle of not just the heavy mantle of not just
delivering justice but also being delivering justice but also being
seen to do so. How far he succeeds seen to do so. How far he succeeds
in this task may well determine in this task may well determine
the trajectory of Pakistan, and its the trajectory of Pakistan, and its
region, for years to come.region, for years to come.Ahsan is an attorney and former Ahsan is an attorney and former
Leader of the House in the Senate Leader of the House in the Senate
of Pakistanof PakistanUUmmar Ata Bar Ata Bandialandial
Judicial voice
B Y A I T Z A Z A H S A NB Y A I T Z A Z A H S A N
At COP26 in Glasgow late last
year, she chided the world’s lead-
ers for not working more diligently
to limit the potential catastrophic
impacts of climate change, telling
them to try harder. While chair of
the World Bank and the Interna-
tional Monetary Fund’s Develop-
ment Committee, she reminded
the world’s fi nance gurus that
the level of a country’s per capita
income may not always be the
best measure of its wealth. After
all: one climate-change-induced
hurricane can take a signifi cant
toll on that wealth.
Mia Mottley is an icon in her
country, having won re-election by
a landslide. The Prime Minister
strides boldly on the world stage.
She is an embodiment of our
conscience, reminding us all to
treat our planet, and therefore
one another, with love, dignity,
and care.Okonjo-Iweala is the director-
general of the World Trade
Organization55