CARICOM leaders urged to recommit to shared purpose – Chair

…call made as integration efforts intensify for future generations

As the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) ushers in its 52nd anniversary, CARICOM Chair and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has issued a powerful call for renewed commitment to regional unity, especially as the 49th Conference of Heads of Government convenes in Jamaica.
In a stirring address to CARICOM nationals across the region and diaspora, Holness highlighted the Community’s enduring relevance since its establishment in 1973 with the Treaty of Chaguaramas by Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, and Trinidad & Tobago.
On this point, he emphasised the need for CARICOM to “continue to build a community that shines as a beacon of unity, shared purpose, and hope for both present and future generations”.
“As we look to the future, the valuable lessons and experience gained over the past half-century of integration will guide us in addressing new and emerging challenges. These include, but are not limited to, collective efforts to tackle climate change, secure climate financing, strengthen food and energy security, combat transnational organised crime, and bolster our resilience to external shocks,” Holness said in a video address.
Further, Holness reaffirmed that while CARICOM has grown to include 15 member states and six associate members, there is still “more to be done” in strengthening the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME)—a critical pillar for promoting inter-regional trade, free movement of skills and capital, and economic resilience.
Nonetheless, he praised the Community’s institutions—such as the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Caribbean Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), the Caribbean Agricultural Development Institute (CARDI), and the University of the West Indies (UWI).
“Today, CARICOM stands as a testament to what can be accomplished when we transcend our differences and work together for the common good. At its core, CARICOM continues to provide invaluable opportunities for growth in trade, coordination of foreign policy, and functional cooperation in areas such as health, education, culture, and the environment. The CARICOM single market and economy remain a powerful vehicle for advancing regional economic integration. It offers our people new opportunities, promotes competitiveness, builds resilience, and fosters inclusiveness. While we have made progress, there remains more to be done to unlock the potential of the CSME, particularly in driving inter-regional trade, facilitating movement of skills and capital, and creating sustainable economic growth for all member states. Our commitment to this objective must be steadfast and unwavering,” the CARICOM Chair added.
Every year on the first Monday in July, CARICOM Day is observed to commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas in 1973, which established the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Guyana, one of the four founding members of CARICOM alongside Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, has played a central role in shaping the direction of the community. As host of the CARICOM Secretariat headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana is seen as a key driver of regional unity and integration. Over the decades, Guyana has championed food security, climate resilience, and equitable development across the bloc, while also pushing for greater cooperation in trade and infrastructure.
In fact, since assuming office in August 2020, President Dr Irfaan Ali has driven major initiatives that are reshaping integration, food security, and climate policy across the Caribbean.
From spearheading the 25 by 2025 food import reduction strategy to championing sustainable energy and regional infrastructure, Guyana has emerged as a forceful advocate for a stronger, more self-reliant Caribbean.
The administration backed its commitments with action: Guyana’s agriculture budget more than doubled, moving from $13.3 billion in 2019 to over $32.2 billion in 2023. The government has driven growth in critical sectors such as corn, soybeans, coconut, cocoa, and aquaculture while expanding shade-house farming and livestock production.
Beyond food, Guyana has also pushed for energy transformation and regional logistics. A 250 km gas pipeline and major hydropower and solar projects are underway, with the aim of cutting electricity costs by half by 2025.
President Ali has also promoted critical infrastructure to support integration, including the Corentyne River bridge to Suriname and a highway to Brazil—both expected to enhance trade, energy cooperation, and food exports.