Heavy global agenda demands “undivided attention” – Caricom SG

Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett has called for undivided attention in navigating the tides of a heavy global agenda by harnessing the wisdom of the bloc’s five-decade-long experience in overcoming challenges.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of Caricom on Sunday evening, the Secretary General underscored that a solid foundation has been established over the past 50 years of the regional bloc’s existence.
She called upon President Dr Irfaan Ali, who is the incumbent Caricom Chair, to carry the Region forward in the changing global landscape.

“The stage is well set for this new generation to engage its innovativeness, ingenuity and dynamism to secure and improve on the gains so far achieved. Mr Chairman, as you carry us forward, as the standard bearer for Caricom for the next six months, there is a heavy regional and global agenda which demands our undivided attention and active engagement, despite the ever-present vagaries of the global landscape. Let us, therefore, harness the wisdom of our 50 years of existence, learning from what we have done well and what we know we can do better, and move forward with passion and determination to overcome today’s challenges,” Dr Barnett charged.
The Secretary General highlighted Trinidad and Tobago’s Presidency of the 78th United Nations General Assembly; Guyana’s election to the United Nations Security Council and its current Presidency of that body; and St Lucia’s election to the Presidency of the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as positive strides where the Region has a voice to address complex and multi-faceted global issues.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is also completing a successful year as Pro Tempore President of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the first Caricom country to undertake this role.
According to her, the Caribbean’s resilience, adaptability and development will be examined in detail this week, allowing Governments to pool their collective wisdom to devise sustainable solutions to the threats and challenges faced.
“Significant technical and policy work has led to accomplishments in various areas, including food and nutrition security, advancing aspects of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME), border security, air and maritime transportation, among others…As we continue to tackle these and other issues during this 46th Meeting, our dedicated hours in plenary, caucus and retreat sessions will be focused on moving our integration movement determinedly forward in the best interests of our Region and its citizens,” she said.
This week, regional leaders will be joined by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and their exchanges will seek to further advance the regional food security agenda among other critical areas.
Dr Barnett underscored that Caricom speaks clearly in the international community and its determined advocacy has helped to spur positive change for critical hemispheric and global issues.
The SG mentioned, “The decision at COP28 in December 2023 to operationalise the Loss and Damage Fund; and growing acknowledgement in the international community that the Bridgetown Initiative presents a more relevant financial approach to addressing the unique needs of our Region are but two examples of the impact of Caricom’s advocacy.” (G12)