PM Pierre attends 46th CARICOM meeting, underscores climate change, SDGs issues

Castries, Saint Lucia: Prime Minister Philip J Pierre attended the 46^th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to discuss issues related to climate change and resilience. The meeting is scheduled to be held from Sunday to Thursday in Georgetown Guyana.

Mohammed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana hosted the meeting and delivered the official address during the opening ceremony.

The prime minister was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs- Alva Baptiste and the Ambassador to CARICOM and the OECS- Elma Gene Isaac.

As per sources, the government delegates of Caribbean countries will engage in the discussion with the meeting’s special guest, the President of Brazil-Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The four-day meeting focuses on the agenda of citizen and regional security, regional transportation, regional food, climate change and climate financing. The table was co-chaired by the CARICOM Secretary General- Dr Carla Barnett and Prime Minister of Dominica and Chairman of CARICOM- Roosevelt Skerrit.

PM Pierre is looking forward to implementing the initiatives that will foster food security and intra-regional trade across the Caribbean. As Saint Lucia completed its Health National Adaptation Plan (H-NAP) in October 2023, the plan now has marked headway for the government to strengthen climate resilience in the healthcare sector.

Noting this, the plan is supported by the Green Climate Fund (GFC). The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs focused on raising public awareness about health risks related to climate change.

The leader of Saint Lucia has spoken about such risks in the CARICOM meeting as well and the meeting is expected to bring positive outcomes which will enhance the development of his nation as a whole.

Since Prime Minister Pierre will not return to Saint Lucia due to the CARICOM meeting to address domestic issues, as a result, he will not participate in the Eighth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAC), which is going to be held on March, 1 in Saint Vincent.

President Ali expressed his delight as he is hosting the CARICOM meeting. Recently, he visited Saint Lucia to attend multiple meetings, which benefitted both nations. He also addressed the joint parliament session last Wednesday.

During the event, he touched on various topics of concern and offered several business opportunities in Guyana. He encourages the people of Saint Lucia to expand their businesses in his country. While underscoring the importance of deeper relations between both nations, he encouraged trade, distribution and manufacturing.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, as well as the member of Parliament serving for Castries South, Ernest Hilaire will act as a prime minister in the absence of PM Pierre till February 28, 2024.