PM Keith Rowley joins high-stakes US-CARICOM dialogue in Barbados

To resolve crucial issues influencing the region and the world in general, the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley met with a senior US delegation and CARICOM leaders in Barbados.

The debates held there were about enhancing the funding capacity of the region, enhancing relations between the United States and the Caribbean and promoting the Bridgetown Agenda.

The Bridgetown Initiative spearheaded by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, strives to redesign the current world financial architecture to support the vulnerable nations in the climate emergency.

According to PM Keith Rowley, Caribbean states’ needs align with financing terms as well as more integration with the international financial institutions.

Dr Keith Rowley’s role is pivotal. He has in the past had the lead responsibility at CARICOM for negotiating measures to prevent firearms proliferation and promote energy security.

These efforts have placed the country on the map as being central to decision making within the region and opening up relations with world players like the US.

The talks have come at a crucial time, with the US about to undergo a new administration. Rowley pointed out the necessity to deal with policy change processes as well as to continue advocating for fair solutions in CARICOM’s context.

“Our arguments remain consistent,” he said. And two parties shared the common interest in regional stability and cooperation. Closely related to these deliberations are Trinidad and Tobago’s stakes in the Venezuelan sector of interest – energy.

Categorically, the Prime Minister extended the call to remain active, pointing out that under an OFAC license, progress in key areas has for instance been made particularly in energy such as the Dragon Gas Field development.

Rowley’s participation in Barbados underscores a broader CARICOM agenda: to foster cooperation in drawing that long-term economic architecture of the region and to solve common problems including climate change, security, and trade.

His return on Sunday will bring to an end a series of engagements which started this weekend with CARICOM meetings in Guyana.