Guyana to host 46th CARICOM meeting, hold discussions regarding regional issues

Guyana will host the Forty-Sixth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) from February 25-28, 2024. The President of Guyana- Irfaan Ali will deliver the official address at the opening ceremony.

The heads of government will engage in the discussions with the meeting’s special guest, the President of Brazil- Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva among other delegates in the event.

Notably, Linda Thomas Greenfield- US Ambassador to the UN will lead the United States delegation to the conference and discuss America’s commitment to Guyana’s sovereignty.

During the four-day business sessions, the government officials will touch on several matters of concern such as regional food and nutrition security, regional transportation development, climate change and climate financing.

Noting this, the representatives of Caribbean countries will also provide an update on the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and free movement of all Community citizens by 31 March, as mandated at the 45^th Regular Meeting in July 2023.

Further, the chairman of CARICOM and Prime Minister of Dominica- Roosevelt Skerrit and CARICOM Secretary General- Dr Carla Barnett will also address the officials during the event.

CARICOM chairman Roosevelt Skerrit, as lead head of government with responsibility for Agriculture and Food and Nutrition Security in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet, will deliver a speech regarding the current state of Caribbean communities in achieving its sustainable development goals of ’25 by 2025’.

Considerably, the head will also discuss measures to curb the obstacles that resulted in the region’s rising food import bill and will improve intra-regional trade.

Apart from the regional issues, the meeting will also focus on the issues which will affect their national security such as

• The situations in Haiti and border issues
• Financial matters
• Renewal of the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF)
• Global and hemisphere issues
• Developments in the Middle East
• Compensation and other reparations
• The ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2024

The four-day extraordinary meeting is expected to bring positive outcomes and will prove productive for all the heads of the government as it will support and encourage them to achieve their sustainable development goals.

The 46^th CARICOM meeting will conclude with a press conference on Wednesday.

Additionally, President Ali expressed his delight as he will host the CARICOM meeting. Recently, he visited Saint Lucia for a business and supply expo and offered business opportunities for the people of Saint Lucia in Guyana.

It has been noted that the country has witnessed a spike in its economy under the leadership of President Ali. He looks forward to the opportunities that will be offered after the CARICOM conference.