The outgoing chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Prime Minister of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit, wants the Caribbean Community to be proud of what has been achieved in 2023.
In his end of year statement, the Prime Minister remarked that over the course of the outgoing year, steady progress was made in the advancement of regional integration. He referred to the 45th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM held in July in Trinidad and Tobago where “pivotal” decisions were taken to work towards the free movement of all CARICOM nationals within the Community and to advance measures to bring the regional capital market into being, with appropriate attendant amendments made to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
He also recalled the “joyous” celebrations across the Community for the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of the signing of the original Treaty of Chaguaramas held under theme, “50 Years Strong: A Solid Foundation to Build On,” noting that, “we paused for reflection on the many seminal achievements since 1973 and recommitted to the vision of our Founding Fathers for a prosperous, unified Community.”
In his comments on food security, Skerrit observed that the initiative had picked up pace, with several Member States recording important initiatives to reduce their food import bill, and advance food and nutrition security for their citizens. Mention was made of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture “a flagship event,” held in The Bahamas in April, which allowed focussed engagement with the private sector. This was coupled with a “critical” Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture aimed at prioritising actions to combat food and nutrition insecurity, and improve the climate resilience of agriculture in the Caribbean.
The Dominican Prime Minister turned his attention to regional security and the Haiti crisis. “Regional security was brought into sharp focus as we navigated escalating threats to our borders. We continued strenuous efforts, including through the interventions of the CARICOM-appointed Eminent Persons Group (EPG), and international advocacy, to find solutions to the multi-dimensional crisis in Haiti and for a return to peace and stability.”
He noted that to date, there have been five consultations with stakeholders, with the last one yielding a Framework Agreement to provide a transitional governance arrangement to enable Haiti to have free and fair elections. These stakeholders, it was explained, achieved consensus on several aspects of the draft Framework and have agreed to continue discussions. Further, efforts have been further bolstered with the pledge of support from several Member States to the Multinational Security Support (MNSS) mission which the UN Security Council has approved.
Skerrit also spoke of CARICOM’s efforts to transition to renewable energy and increase energy efficiency, which he noted were bolstered with the provision of $20 million in funding from USAID to Caribbean companies with financial and technical assistance and business development services, through the Caribbean Climate Investment Program. It was pointed out that a Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee (PMSC) on Climate Change and the Climate Finance Agenda, with the support of the relevant technical experts and institutions, now provides coordination and oversight of the preparation for international climate change and climate finance negotiations.
Also worthy of mention was the opening of the CARICOM headquarters of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in Barbados, which is expected to expand Africa-Caribbean trade and investment relations in critical economic sectors.
The Prime Minister stated that working together is the region’s surest way of overcoming challenges.
“The challenges and achievements of the past year have clearly indicated that acting in concert is our surest way of making the local, regional and international impact that is needed to deepen the CARICOM integration movement. In this regard, I extend sincere gratitude to my colleague Heads of Government, to leaders across the length and breadth of the Community, and to the staff members of the CARICOM Secretariat. Your contributions have helped to further our mandate of a Caribbean Community of which we can be proud.”
As such, Prime Minister Skerrit posited that it is with collective will and action that “we will achieve our goal of a prosperous, healthy and safe “Community for All.” Let us recommit to pursuing that goal in the coming year.”
