The webinar is being held to mark International Youth Day, which was observed on 12 August under the theme ‘Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond’.

“I am on record as saying that we need to launch a war on gangs of a similar magnitude and nature to the war on terror.”

CARICOM Heads of Government have agreed to tackle the Region’s crime and security challenge with the adoption of the Montego Bay Declaration on Transnational Organised Crime and Gangs, underscoring leaders’ united stance against criminal networks.

This was highlighted by Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP, CARICOM Chair and Jamaica’s Prime Minister, during the closing media conference for the 49^th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government, which was held from 6-8 July in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  

“A secure CARICOM is a viable CARICOM,” stated the CARICOM Chairman, “And as such, security remains high on the agenda for the duration of my chairmanship and beyond.”

Prime Minister Holness shared that leaders also held talks with the Secretary-General of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), Valdecy Urquiza, who “committed to strengthening cooperation and expanding access to its global resources.”

In the Declaration, leaders reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering the Region’s efforts against organised crime by tracking emerging trends in illicit firearms trafficking, introducing strong legislation with tougher penalties for firearm and gang-related offences and enhancing public awareness to support prevention and prosecution initiatives.

Firm stance

During his keynote address at the Meeting’s opening ceremony on Sunday, the Prime Minister underscored that CARICOM nations must take a firm stance on organised criminal gangs, reiterating his position that gang violence must be regarded as acts of terrorism.

He stated that gang networks have grown well beyond typical street-level crime and now pose a serious threat to regional security and emphasised that addressing this issue requires the same level of urgency and coordinated action as the global fight against terrorism.

“I am on record as saying that we need to launch a war on gangs of a similar magnitude and nature to the war on terror,” the CARICOM Chairman stated.

Dr Holness underscored the urgent need for Member States to collaborate in dismantling the resources that fuel criminal organisations, particularly their access to financial systems.

Referencing a July 2024 United Nations report, Dr. Holness noted findings on the influence of gang activity in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago. The report also highlighted a correlation between escalating drug production in South America, widespread firearm availability, and rising homicide rates.

Dr Holness further stated that the deteriorating security situation in Haiti serves as a stark warning and a call to immediate, coordinated regional action.

“It is the organisation of violence for profit. It is not merely street-level, dispossessed, socially excluded youngsters. There is a level of intelligence, a level of resources, a level of organisation that has been brought to crime and violence, which is being used for profit, stated the Prime Minister.

Adding, “My own view is that policy and jurisprudence need to evolve to address this matter.”

The Prime Minister underscored the immense scale and complexity of crime affecting the Region, cautioning that it cannot be resolved overnight or through short-term efforts.

He emphasised that a durable solution will require robust investment and widespread public engagement across the Community, noting that unified support is essential to effectively confront the threat.

Helpful Links:

UNODC, Caribbean Gangs “Drugs, firearms, and gang networks in Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago”, 2024

https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/AOTP/Caribbean_Gangs_Drugs_firearms_and_gang_networks_in_Jamaica_Saint_Lucia_Guyanaand_Trinidad_an_July_2024_Final.pdf

Keynote Address | Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP | Prime Minister of Jamaica | Chairman of CARICOM | 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government| 6 July 2025

“There can be no sustained prosperity without security,” the Prime Minister said, pointing out that urgent action is required to confront the growing problem.

“We must dismantle the influence of gangs in our communities, disrupt their financing, and cut off access to weapons,” Dr. Holness said during his address at the opening of the Forty-ninth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, which ended on 8 July in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

He quoted a 2024 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime which highlighted the worrying combination of risk factors including surging drug production in South America, the proliferation and competition of transnational and local gangs, and high availability and use of firearms [that] have contributed to soaring homicide rates.

“If the situation in Haiti is an indicator, these are not ordinary times and they require urgent action,” the Prime Minister said.

Acknowledging that the problem cannot be solved overnight, the Prime Minister said it will require “significant investment and unified public support”.

“I am on record as saying that we need to launch a war on gangs of a similar magnitude and nature to the war on terror. Aside from climate change, the threat that poses an existential threat in the near term for many of our states would be the growth of gangs. Many Caribbean states, by virtue of our history and the kind of civilisation we wish to develop, would seem to categorise gangs as a social problem; a problem caused by the alienation of youth, poverty, breakdown of social mores and values, and therefore the policy response must be or should be a social response, one that treats crime and violence as a public health crisis – and basically so, there is no question that it is a social problem why 90 per cent of persons involved in crime are males, and speaking for Jamaica, 90 per cent of those who are victims of homicide are males, so yes, there is that strong social component.

“But I believe that our society, and the way that we think about crime and violence needs to evolve to accept and understand the evolved nature of the challenge we face, and the truth is that what we are now facing is the organisation of violence. It is the organisation of violence for profit. It is not merely street level, dispossessed, socially excluded youngsters. There is a level of intelligence, a level of resources, a level of organisation that has been brought to crime, and violence is being used to support a profit motive and my own view is that policy and jurisprudence needs to evolve to address this matter,” the Prime Minister said.

Underlining the importance of security to the Community’s progress, Heads of Government invited the Secretary General of the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), Mr. Valdecy Urquiza, as a special guest to the Meeting.

Jamaica also mounted a security exposition at the Meeting. Prime Minister Holness said the exposition is intended to spotlight “our shared commitment to building a safer, more resilient Region by exchanging ideas, innovations and best practices. It is also an opportunity for you to see how the significant investments made by the Government of Jamaica in national security over the past nine years are yielding results in crime reduction and public safety.”

In her address as Outgoing Chair of CARICOM at the opening of the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Montego Bay on July 6, Prime Minister Mottley warned that the proliferation of disinformation, fueled by the misuse of artificial intelligence, poses a serious risk to the Region’s democracy.

“The improper use of AI can sometimes stoke great fear and panic among our citizens,” she said, citing recent examples in which Barbados was the target of fake news.

“It is almost as if this is a daily exercise now for our countries,” she stated, urging CARICOM to establish its own mechanism to verify information in the absence of action from global tech platforms.
“We need our own CARICOM blue tick to validate truth in this Community,” she said.

Historic gathering

A meeting between Heads of Government and Heads of Judiciary of CARICOM preceded the opening of the Conference. Lauding this gathering as historic, Prime Minister Mottley stated that “it is possible for the judiciary to remain independent but not isolated from the communities in which they operate,” echoing the sentiments of Jamaica’s Chief Justice.

This idea, she added, is critical not only for the development of Caribbean jurisprudence but also for stability in our democracies and for addressing the shared burden of citizen insecurity.

Prime Minister Mottley said that the Region pays a high price for the United States’ Second Amendment rights, and lauded Jamaica’s proposal for a regional justice and security cooperation framework that aligns with the Needham’s Point and George Bridge Declarations.

Underscoring the importance of regional action on citizen security, she said, “We have a duty to our citizens.”

The Outgoing Chair also paid tribute to newly installed President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice Winston Anderson.

Let me acknowledge Senator Janice Allen, representing the Leader of the Opposition,

Dr. Carla Barnett, CARICOM Secretary-General,

Chief Ministers and Ministers of Government,

Members of the Judiciary,

The newly installed president of the Caribbean Court of Justice, the Honourable Mr. Justice Winston Anderson,

Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Representatives of regional and international organizations,

Distinguished delegates,

Specially invited guests,

Members of the media,

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Jamaica!

We are delighted that you have joined us on my assumption of the chairmanship of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for the remainder of 2025. I thank my colleague and friend, the Honourable Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, for ably steering us through the first six months of the year, and she has done so with the fervor, determination, and eloquence for which she is well known and admired.

I want to thank you, Mia, because we started out at the same time. I was a bit worried when you said, ‘young and romantic then,’ and you caught up to say, ‘still young and romantic now,’ so we are still in the same category, but I also thought that you would’ve used another one of Jimmy Cliff’s great songs. Yes, we all can see clearly after the event, after the challenge, and after we have exercised our duties. We all should be aspirational, and we all should hope for the best, and we all should persevere.

Yes, we can get it if we really want it, but upon assuming this role, I’m also cognizant, Mia, as your presentation would’ve alerted us to, there are still many rivers to cross. So, my job will be to get us across those rivers safely and get across as many of them as possible. And don’t worry, you are in safe hands.

I am especially pleased that so many of my colleagues are here in Montego Bay, some of whom were with me in 2018. I’m looking at one of my political fathers, Ralph Gonsalves, but allow me to take time to congratulate my friend, the Honourable John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize, whose government was reelected in March.

Though her delegation is not here, I must congratulate the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, newly elected Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. We also acknowledge the return to office of the Honourable David Burt as Premier of Bermuda and the Honourable Charles Washington Misick as Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands. In her absence, we acknowledge the election of the Honourable Cora Richardson-Hodge, Premier of Anguilla, who is the first woman to serve in this distinguished capacity.

We have some special guests with us, His Excellency Valdecy Urquiza, Secretary-General of the International Criminal Police Organization, INTERPOL, and we look forward to the fruitful exchanges that we will have with him to further enrich our partnerships at all levels.

I’m also pleased to welcome our special guest, His Excellency Albert Ramdin, a son of CARICOM, and the first from our region to serve as Secretary-General of the Organization of American States, the OAS.

I also wish to acknowledge and once more welcome Dr. Carla Barnett, Secretary-General of CARICOM, and her team, with whom I’ll be working even more closely since assuming the chair of the Community. Thank you, Secretary-General, and your team, for your usual support.

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Our theme, “People, Partnership, Prosperity: Promoting a Secure and Sustainable Future,“ captures the essence of our regional purpose. It reflects a profound truth that security and resilience are not optional. They are foundations for prosperity. People-centred development and strategic partnerships are not merely aspirational; they are essential.

As small states, we are vulnerable not just to global economic shocks and natural hazards, but to being marginalized in a world where power and influence often outweigh genuine need. And that is why we must think strategically, act collaboratively, and remain focused on the values and interests that unite us.

Prime Minister Mottley expressed, as I’ve said quite eloquently, many of the threats that we face, which, as small countries, we grapple with. Oftentimes as leaders, as we contemplate these challenges and we look at our size relative to the rest of the world, it can be daunting. Sometimes we may have the expectation that exceptions will be made for us and that our case will be treated with deference and deferential favour. But I think that as we enter into the new order that seems to be emerging in the world, we must be strategic. We must strengthen our institutions. We must take responsibility for our own destiny because that is the only way we’re going to really get it if we really want it.

It means we must focus on people because human development must be the center of the integration mission. It must be the center of the development mission, ensuring food security, access to decent work, climate protection, and, importantly, opportunities for our youth, who make up 60% of our population. We must focus on people.

We must also focus on partnerships because global progress is built on networks of trust. We need stronger ties within CARICOM and with strategic global partners in Africa, North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and the Middle East. In the new dispensation, which is emerging, it is clear that the world is not unipolar and that there are opportunities that we must explore. There are gains that we have left on the table unexplored, and as a Community, we must strengthen South-South cooperation. We must strengthen our trade cooperation with Africa, and we must strengthen our internal cooperation. The resources in CARICOM are sufficient for us to provide for the needs of our people. Guyana with energy and land, Suriname with energy and land, Trinidad, and Jamaica with incredible human resources.

What has stopped us for these many years? We have been saying we really want to get it. Did we really want it?

I think that the emerging global situation must now push us to really get it. We can get it because the time to get prosperity for our people is now. But that prosperity must be inclusive. It can’t be for some; it must be for everyone in this region, including our brothers and sisters in Haiti. It must be sustainable, and it must be resilient.

Sustainability and resilience are the two new buzzwords now that every government must focus on, and so it is that the policies that we will pursue in CARICOM, whatever they are, whether they are the institutional structures that we will have to reexamine, the trade policies that we will have to pursue, or the security policies that we will have to pursue, they must be pursued through the lens of sustainability and resilience.

Jamaica will continue to champion initiatives that will make these three pillars—People, Partnerships and Prosperity—not just aspirational, because we have seen leaders come before with these aspirations. We have seen the words expressed before. The problem has always been our ability to be bold enough, strategic enough, systematic enough, and disciplined enough to convert these dreams and aspirations and these words into reality.

 The presence of delegations from 48 countries today is a powerful statement of global confidence in CARICOM and in our shared agenda. We are meeting at a time of intense international activity. In the months ahead, CARICOM will engage the world through the second CARICOM-Africa Summit in Ethiopia and during the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.

As small, vulnerable states, the unavoidable reality of the climate crisis stands as a sobering reminder each year, especially during the annual hurricane season. And as we prepare for COP30 in Belém, Brazil, our call is urgent and clear. The promises of the Paris Agreement must be met both in emissions reductions and access to climate finance at the level and scale required. Our discussions tomorrow will give special attention to COP 30 preparations and climate finance, which remain defining issues for our region’s survival and prosperity.

For others, the issue of climate change may be an academic discussion between scientists trying to determine whether the data set is accurate or whether historically climate has changed over time, and therefore, climate change now is nothing new; it is an academic discourse. But last year, just around this time, Jamaica was staring down the earliest-forming and probably the quickest-forming Category 4 hurricane, which devastated a third of our island. So, for us, climate change is not an academic discussion. Climate change is real.

We live it almost every day, and the impact of this must be understood from the fiscal level and the need for financing, but certainly because of our size. A weather event in Texas, and our sympathies and condolences go out to the people of the United States, particularly the people of Texas, who were impacted by the recent weather events, which resulted in flooding. But the impact of this will have no effect on the overall fiscal situation of the United States. A similar weather event in any of our economies would have a devastating effect, and therefore, we must continue to strongly advocate for climate justice and climate financing. You have my assurance that Jamaica will continue to be a strong advocate for climate justice and climate finance.

Friends, there can be no sustained prosperity without security. A July 2024 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime entitled “Caribbean Gangs: Drugs, Firearms, and Gang Networks in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago” points to a worrying combination of risk factors, including surging drug production in South America, the proliferation and competition of transnational and local gangs, and the high availability and use of firearms that have contributed to soaring homicide rates. If the situation in Haiti is an indicator, these are not ordinary times, and they require urgent action. We must dismantle the influence of gangs in our communities, disrupt their financing, and cut off access to weapons.

I am on record as saying that we need to launch a war on gangs of a similar magnitude and nature to the war on terror. Aside from the climate threat, the threat that is most likely to have an existential threat in the near term for many of our states would be the growth of gangs. Many Caribbean states, by virtue of our history and the kind of civilization that we wish to develop, would seem to categorize gangs as a social problem, a problem caused by alienation of youth, poverty, and breakdown in social mores and values, and therefore the policy response should be a social response, one that treats crime and violence as a public health crisis, and this is so. There is no question that it is a social problem why 90% of persons involved in crime are males, and speaking for Jamaica, 90% of victims of homicides are males. So yes, there is that strong social component. But I believe our society and the way in which we think about crime and violence need to evolve to accept and understand the evolved nature of the challenge we face.

And the truth is that what we are now facing is the organization of violence. It is the organization of violence for profit. It is not merely street-level dispossessed or socially excluded youngsters. There is a level of intelligence, a level of resources, and a level of organization that has been brought to crime, and violence is being used to support a profit motive. And my own view is that policy and jurisprudence need to evolve to address this matter. As I said, the situation in Haiti is only an example that we should look at very carefully.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Expo, which you can view just outside this room in a couple of minutes from now, is intended to spotlight our shared commitment to building a safer, more resilient region by exchanging ideas, innovations, and best practices. It is also an opportunity for you to see how the significant investments made by the Government of Jamaica in national security over the past nine years are yielding results in crime reduction and public safety.

I just want to say here that the scale and magnitude of the problem (crime), which is being faced by almost all member countries of CARICOM, cannot be addressed overnight. It took 40 years for the problem to emerge to where it is, and it will not be solved by short-term measures. It will require significant investment, but it will also require unified public support. As we observe the challenges in several of our member states and we see the rising homicide rates, we also see political dissonance, and so it is absolutely important that we come together as a region so that our individual publics can see and appreciate that they are not alone in this problem, that the gangs in Jamaica likely have a connection with gangs in St. Lucia, in Trinidad, in Haiti, or in the Bahamas, and that there needs to be joint, coordinated action from the regional level. And I believe, from what I have seen and experienced in working with my colleagues, that there is a strong appetite for regional cooperation to treat the security matters that are affecting our individual countries. And as chairman, you have my assurance that the matter of security, regionally and in terms of individual countries, will be a matter of great priority under my chairmanship.

The 49th Regular Meeting will also provide another critical platform for dialogue on the situation in Haiti. We remain committed to advancing solutions that promote peace, stability, and development for our sister nation and, by extension, the wider Community. Jamaica was one of the first countries to give a commitment that we would support Haiti with security personnel and to raise the call for support for Haiti. As Mia had pointed out, the appetite to support Haiti seemed to have been lost. The international momentum in support of Haiti seemed to have slowed. We cannot be true to our principles in CARICOM if we do not redouble our efforts in the international community to garner support for the mission in Haiti. We cannot leave our brothers and sisters in Haiti at the mercy of gangs. Haiti and the mobilization of international support for the security efforts in Haiti will be another area of significant effort and priority for CARICOM under my chairmanship.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, while not on the agenda, it is important that we take note of the outcome of last week’s Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), as stated in the Sevilla Commitment. Chief among these are the actions needed to close the $4 trillion SDG financing gap and advance a multilateral ecosystem that is more inclusive, representative, equitable, and effective.

Importantly, the conference secured reaffirmation of the special circumstances of Small Island Developing States and the ABAS agenda. Jamaica will continue to use our co-chairmanship of the UN Secretary-General’s SDGs Stimulus Group and the Group of Friends of SDG Financing at the UN for advocacy to ensure that the commitments made are not mere words on paper but translate into tangible outcomes for the benefit of future generations of the citizens of CARICOM.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, since its inception, the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) has been acknowledged as holding seeds of great potential, yet many aspects of operationalization continue to elude us, including that of free movement. As the world presses us to strengthen our collective self-sufficiency, we can feel encouraged that 2025 has already marked a turning point with the completion of the signature by participating member states of the Protocol of Enhanced Cooperation. This development represents a timely and valuable opportunity to accelerate the efforts of countries. I look forward to our discussions in this context.

Jamaica recently became the eighth country to have participated in national consultations on the implementation of CSME initiatives with the active support of the CARICOM Secretariat. These broad-based engagements across the region are designed to deepen stakeholder understanding of the CSME and to showcase the concrete benefits it offers. They represent an important step towards building broader public support and strengthening confidence in the integration process. We commend the secretariat on its selection and appointment of CSME youth ambassadors who will also be engaged in this process.

As CARICOM leads external trade negotiations, I will continue to work with my colleagues to facilitate reasonable and balanced recommendations on how we can best navigate certain dynamics, ensure that our voices are heard in all relevant fora, and ensure that our perspectives advance the objectives of a free, transparent, rules-based, inclusive, and equitable multilateral trading system. Our heads subcommittee for this area convenes again this week, and we’ll report back to the plenary.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, this conference will address a wide range of human and social development issues, telecommunications, transport, industrial growth, and demographic shifts. Alongside these functional priorities, it is clear that key institutional aspects of our regional movement now require renewed focus as we strive to strengthen both internal coordination and external partnerships.

Allow me to say a few words about youth engagement because I am resolute in my belief that young people must have a voice in shaping the decisions that affect their future. Youth across the region have thoughts and ideas about what we are trying to put in place for them and future generations. As key drivers and consumers of technological advancement, they hold immense potential to contribute meaningfully to our development goals. It is important that we engage them in a deliberate, sustained, and meaningful way. Let this meeting send a clear signal that we believe in our youth, we include them in the decision-making process for their future, and their inclusion is not just symbolic but real.

And as we’re talking about youth, who are oftentimes the main consumers of technology, social media, and artificial intelligence, I’m very happy that Mia has raised this issue publicly, as we have internally and within our own countries and Cabinets discussed the impact of how our culture, the essence of who we are, is being changed in dramatic ways that are having a significant negative impact on our societies. This is not a call to regulate, to restrict, or to censor, but I believe that if we are not careful, the Caribbean civilization, quoting Mia’s characterization of who we are and what we’re trying to build, could easily evaporate. And so, as we talk about our youth, we must include them in a discussion about how we preserve our culture, our values, our mores, and how we preserve the Caribbean people.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, it would be difficult to speak about our priorities as a region without acknowledging the broader global context in which we operate. From the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to the escalating tensions in the Middle East, to the prolonged war in Ukraine, and underreported conflicts in Africa, each speaks to a more divided and fragile world. These realities affect us through energy prices, food insecurity, migration, and more. In this moment, we must be resolute in preserving CARICOM as a zone of peace and reaffirm our commitments to working with the international community to promote de-escalation, uphold diplomacy, and pursue lasting solutions grounded in dialogue and mutual respect. We have a lot of ground to cover over the next few days. Hopefully, we’ll cross some of the rivers that I have outlined, but certainly we will prepare the next generation to be able to cross those rivers. We will get it because we really want it.

So, as I conclude, I draw inspiration from the words of The Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jamaica’s first national hero, who urged us to take advantage of every opportunity and, where there is none, make it ourselves.

And in the spirit of possibility, we are reminded by the great Sir Derek Walcott that there is always more to see. Let us therefore move forward with clarity, with a sense of optimism that yes, we can get it, but also with a deep sense of purpose and understanding of what the realities we face are, with no expectations of favours from the world. We are independent, we are strong, and we have what it takes to fulfil the CARICOM dream of prosperity for all our people. Let us reignite and reaffirm our unity as one Caribbean people with purpose and pride. We will get it because we really want it, and it’s now clearer for us to cross all the rivers that are there.

God bless you and thank you.

As we prepare for the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government, Prime Minister Holness has shared a message outlining his vision and priorities for the Community.

Please click below to view his message.

The Meeting convenes 6-8 July, in Montego Bay, Jamaica, with Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, as the Chair. Prime Minister Holness assumes the six-month rotating Chairmanship of the Community on 1 July 2025.

Discussions will be held under the theme: ‘People, Partnerships, Prosperity: Promoting a Secure and Sustainable Future’, which Secretary-General Barnett said reflects CARICOM’s strategic focus on working collaboratively to ensure that “future generations of our Region will be resilient, and safe, and will thrive.”

In a video message ahead of the Meeting, the Secretary-General said the Heads of Government will also focus on emerging geopolitical issues, including the impact of US tariffs on the Region, and how the provisions of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) can contribute to national and regional growth and sustainable development.

“Our expectation is that this Meeting of the Conference will engender those discussions and decisions that will lead to meaningful outcomes for the Caribbean Community,” she said in the message.

Listen to the message below:

The CARICOM Secretariat has launched an online knowledge hub to highlight essential information and provide content related to the upcoming 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) which will take place 6 – 8 July in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  

This official online presence was designed as a gateway to the 49th Meeting, catering to a diverse range of stakeholders. It will include specific content created for regional and international media; foreign policy and international relations stakeholders; Caribbean youth leaders and advocates; Caribbean affairs specialists; policymakers; researchers, students, and the broader Community.

The knowledge hub provides details of the Meeting, including the thematic focus points, and the programme of events.  Other aspects of the platform include a section which will feature media releases and advisories; high-level speeches; image galleries; videos; and a consistently updated news section. The Meeting Communiqué will also be uploaded to the platform when it is released.

Two major highlights of the hub are the video messages from the Incoming Chair, Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica. In one of the videos, directed to the youth of the Region, Prime Minister Holness underscores the value of their voices in addressing the Community’s challenges, including crime and security, climate resilience, and food security, among other critical issues impacting the Community’s development and prosperity. 

During the meeting, visitors to the hub will also be able to access live streams of the opening ceremony, closing media conference, and other key public events. Members of the media and other stakeholders are encouraged to bookmark the knowledge hub and visit for daily updates. 

The hub can be accessed via: caricom.org/49hgc. For real-time updates and to join the larger conversation surrounding the Meeting, we invite you to use the hashtag #49HGC on social media.

Prime Minister Holness will assume the six-month chairmanship of the Community on 1 July 2025, succeeding the Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados. A founding member of CARICOM, Jamaica holds responsibility for external trade negotiations in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet.

Prior to the Meeting, on 5 July 2025, male and female professional and amateur athletes who are nationals of CARICOM Member States and Associate Members will gather in Rose Hall, Montego Bay, for the 18^th CARICOM Road Races. This activity is intended to promote camaraderie among athletes in the Region and help to underscore the positive influence of sport and physical education on quality of life.

The opening ceremony of the Meeting, scheduled for Sunday, 6 July, 5:00 pm, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre (MBCC), will feature remarks by Prime Minister Holness and Dr. Carla Barnett, CARICOM Secretary-General.

Heads of Government will begin the two-day business sessions of the Conference on 7 July at the MBCC. They will focus on developments in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME); security issues; Haiti; external trade negotiations; climate change and the climate finance agenda; food and nutrition security; and preparations for the second Africa-CARICOM Summit.

Other matters for the attention of the CARICOM leaders include transportation, telecommunications, digitalisation of the tourism industry and the CARICOM Industrial Policy.

CARICOM Heads of Government met in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, in 1982 for their third meeting following the establishment of the Caribbean Community in 1973. Jamaica hosted the Eleventh Meeting of the Conference in 1990. Montego Bay was the location of the Eighteenth, Twenty-Fourth, Thirty-First, and Thirty-Ninth Regular Meetings of the Conference in 1997, 2003, and 2010, and 2018, respectively.

At the Twenty-fourth Meeting of the Conference in Montego Bay in 2003, which marked the 30^th anniversary of the Community, the Heads of Government adopted the Rose Hall Declaration on Regional Governance and Integrated Development, which provided a roadmap for modernising the regional integration movement. It placed emphasis on improving regional governance; deepening the integration process in the context of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and the realities of the international economic environment; and establishing a respected place for Member States in the international system.

Resolution – Rose Hall Declaration

“On the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of our Community, we have resolved to consolidate the achievements of the past and also to chart ‘New Directions’ for the future which are designed to give new meaning to the purposes of our community, to further consolidate our common cultural identity and to promote an integration strategy that will optimise the development possibilities of the region and thereby contribute to the well-being of its people.

“We, the Heads of Government are determined, and call upon the Organs of CARICOM, the Member Governments and Social Partners of the Community to be similarly resolute, in pursuing the fulfilment of these undertakings so that a marked deepening of integration in our Region will be achieved.”

“Reparations for Haiti continue to be central to CARICOM’s reparations claim.  April 2025 marks the bicentenary of the indemnity of 150 million Francs imposed on Haiti by France as reparations for loss of property, including enslaved Africans, and as a precondition for recognising the island’s independence. The negative economic and social effects of this historical injustice are painfully clear, with arguable links to the situation in Haiti today. This Anniversary presents an opportunity to bring global attention and a deeper understanding of the situation in Haiti and serves as a call to action to address the ongoing security, humanitarian and governance crises in the country.”

CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr Carla Barnett, delivered remarks at the Opening High-Level Segment of the Fourth Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.

Please read her remarks below:

• Distinguished Guests;

• Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am pleased to join this gathering of delegates to the Fourth Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent and to bring warm greetings on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). 

I extend my commendations to Dr. June Soomer, a distinguished daughter of the Caribbean, for her stewardship of this important body and achievements over the past year. I also congratulate Ambassador Martin Kimani on his upcoming appointment as Chairperson of the Forum and wish him much success during his tenure.

This Fourth Session, convened under the theme “Africa and people of African descent: United for reparatory justice in the age of Artificial Intelligence”, coincides with the commencement of the United Nations Second Decade for People of African Descent.

The Permanent Forum has established itself as an important consultative body with a vital role to play in championing economic, social, digital and, especially important, reparatory justice for Africans and African-descended people globally. Given the insightful conclusions and recommendations from the previous Sessions, and the transformative agenda which it has been promoting within the framework of the United Nations, we support the call for greater resources for the Permanent Forum to continue to effectively address its important agenda.

Systemic inequality, racial discrimination, and reparatory justice for the global African community continue to be priority areas to be addressed during the Second Decade.

This Second International Decade for People of African Descent provides renewed impetus to advance CARICOM’s own reparations agenda for repair, justice, and the development of people of African descent, as well as the Indigenous people. It is an opportunity to confront the consequences of European colonisation and enslavement, and to call attention to the enduring legacies of these historical injustices.

Of importance also is that the African Union (AU) is observing 2025 as the year for “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations”.

Distinguished guests, at their Meeting in July 2024, CARICOM Heads of Government expressed full support for increased participation and collaboration by the Region in the meetings and work of this Permanent Forum. The CARICOM Reparations Commission, in particular, stands ready to collaborate with the Permanent Forum to advance material improvements for people of African descent as outcomes of the Second International Decade, and especially for women, children and youth.

As the partnership between the Caribbean Community and the African Union continues to grow, the demand for justice and development is a common call. We in CARICOM are pleased that this partnership is being strengthened, with milestone collaborations through the First Africa-CARICOM Summit of Heads of Government held in September 2021; the high level AU Study Tour to Barbados, in August 2023, which focused on developing stronger CARICOM-AU cooperation on reparations and racial healing; and the participation of government and civil society representatives from our Region in the Accra Reparations Conference hosted by the Republic of Ghana in November 2023.

CARICOM looks forward to the Second CARICOM-AU Summit to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 7 September 2025, and other strategic engagements to advance our shared agenda.

The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados and Chair of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government, was invited to address the AU Assembly in February this year, where she reaffirmed CARICOM’s commitment to a strong partnership with Africa towards a shared prosperous future.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, reparations for Haiti continue to be central to CARICOM’s reparations claim.  April 2025 marks the bicentenary of the indemnity of 150 million Francs imposed on Haiti by France, as reparations for loss of property, including enslaved Africans, and as a precondition for recognising the island’s independence. The negative economic and social effects of this historical injustice are painfully clear with arguable links to the situation in Haiti today, and as such, I commend the Forum for putting the spotlight on Haiti in your Closing Session. This Anniversary presents an opportunity to bring global attention and a deeper understanding of the situation in Haiti, and serves as a call to action to address the ongoing security, humanitarian and governance crises in the country. 

The themes of reparatory justice and economic justice have been consistent on the agenda of the Permanent Forum, as is appropriate. For this Fourth Session, digital justice is also being highlighted. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to develop exponentially, Africans and people of African descent, are at risk of being further left behind. Inequitable access to AI tools and training further widens the digital divide, disadvantaging and leaving people of African heritage, and their businesses ill-equipped to effectively compete in a rapidly evolving global economy in which AI is increasingly a critical factor.

To navigate these vulnerabilities, it is important for the Permanent Forum to advocate for inclusive policy frameworks and initiatives, investments in digital literacy, science and technology, and innovation. If we are to thrive in this era, we must prioritise education and innovation, and advocate for inclusive governance frameworks.

Africa has long been a wellspring of knowledge and innovation in mathematics, engineering, astronomy, agriculture, traditional healing and philosophy.  This legacy must now be reclaimed and recognised in development and management, including regulation of Artificial Intelligence. We must also stand against the use of AI, through its applications and algorithms, to perpetuate racial discrimination.

Esteemed guests, this Fourth Session is an opportunity for us to pool our collective knowledge and expertise, and strengthen our commitment to improve the lives of Africans and people of African descent all over the world. I encourage everyone to continue to work together to eradicate deeply embedded structures of racism and inequality, and build inclusive societies where the human rights of all people, including African people, are respected. I wish the Permanent Forum continued success and fruitful deliberations.

Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen.