Most events throughout the festival are free and open to the public. However, a few special highlights require tickets, including:
Super Concerts featuring top regional and international performers
Alvin Ailey II Dance Company – a world-renowned performance you won’t want to miss
“Back in Time Fete” – a nostalgic party celebrating Caribbean musical heritage
A complete list of ticketed events and the link to purchase tickets are available here. All prices are listed in Barbados Dollars (BBD).
For ticketing inquiries or to report an issue, please contact: 
myticketlinkz@gmail.com
Join us in Barbados for an unforgettable cultural experience as we celebrate the spirit, rhythm, and soul of the Caribbean!
The landmark ‘Scaling up the Deployment of Integrated Utility Services (IUS) to Support Energy Sector Transformation in the Caribbean (Phase 1) Programme‘ will accelerate the adoption of distributed renewable energy, energy efficiency, and other clean energy technologies. It is expected to benefit 40,700 people across Barbados, Belize and Jamaica.
This is the first CDB programme approved by the GCF, and signals a joint commitment to expand access to sustainable, affordable, and resilient renewable energy, particularly as the Caribbean faces intensifying climate risks including storms, floods, and rising temperatures.
CDB President, Mr. Daniel Best, expressed gratitude to the GCF for its investment, stating, “We thank the Green Climate Fund for its strong partnership and steadfast support to advance sustainable development in the Caribbean. This programme will mark a major step forward in strengthening our region’s energy security through cleaner, more reliable, and affordable energy that reduces our dependence on imported fuels and builds long-term climate resilience for our communities.”
Chief Investment Officer of the GCF, Henry Gonzalez, added: “The Integrated Utility Services programme will support the energy transition in Caribbean Small Island Developing States, among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries. The approval of this initiative demonstrates how GCF is supporting country ownership by strengthening local institutions to deliver resilient, low-carbon energy systems.”
The Bank will lead implementation with national and regional partners to establish utility-led IUS models that reduce financial and technical barriers to the uptake of sustainable energy solutions. Participating utility companies will offer integrated sustainable energy services to their customers, including support for the procurement, installation, operation, and maintenance of key technologies. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing resilience, utility customers will benefit from lower costs, reduced risks, and equitable access.
The six-year Phase 1 programme will deliver support in Barbados, Belize and Jamaica. The lessons learnt from this initial phase will be integrated into a subsequent Phase 2 programme through which CDB aims to replicate this support in other Caribbean countries.
Approved during the GCF Board’s 42nd meeting in Papa New Guinea on July 3, 2025, the programme will be supported by US$26,736,295 in financing from the GCF. CDB and other partners will contribute US$42,010,000 in loan and in-kind funding.
This initiative leverages the recent upgrade of the Bank’s GCF accreditation, which allows the Bank to develop/deliver GCF-financed initiatives up to US$250 million each.
CDB looks forward to engaging communities, utilities, financiers, and development partners during Phase 1, setting the stage for further scaling in subsequent phases. (Caribbean Development Bank Press Release)
About the Caribbean Development Bank
The Caribbean Development Bank is a regional financial institution established in 1970 to contribute to the harmonious economic growth and development of its Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs). In addition to the 19 BMCs, CDB’s membership includes four regional, non-borrowing members, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela, and five non-regional, non-borrowing members, Canada, China, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. CDB’s total assets in its Ordinary Capital Resources stood at US2.02 billion as at December 31, 2024, while it also manages US$1.40 billion of Special Funds Resources. The Bank is rated Aa1 Stable by Moody’s, AA+ Stable by Standard & Poor’s and AA+ Stable by Fitch Ratings. Learn more at caribank.org
]]>This year’s programme includes:
Four Super Concerts featuring regional icons and international artists
The CARIFESTA Film Festival and outdoor screenings
Daily Fashion Shows and Caribbean couture exhibitions
The Grand Market & Trade Hub, the largest in CARIFESTA history
A robust Youth Village with intergenerational creative programming
The Big Conversations Symposia, tackling Caribbean identity, climate, and innovation
Culinary showcases highlighting food from across the Region
Sustainability activations with a future-forward, eco-conscious approach
CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana – Thursday, 24 July 2025:
The CARIFESTA XV Organising Committee is pleased to share the following advisory for media partners:
With Crop Over 2025 soon to wrap up in grand style, Barbados is immediately shifting into full gear to host the highly anticipated CARIFESTA XV, taking place from 22 to 31 August 2025.
The island is proud to announce that it is ready and fully equipped to welcome the Caribbean and the world for 10 unforgettable days of music, art, dance, fashion, food, film, and cultural dialogue.
“Barbados is the place to be this August for CARIFESTA XV, which will be a beautiful melting pot of Caribbean cultures, foods, fashion, performances and visual arts,” says the Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Ms. Andrea Franklin. “Now more than ever, it’s an amazing moment in our regional history to come together, honour what makes each island unique, and celebrate the vibrant threads that bind us all. This is where the best of the Caribbean will be, in one place, at one time, in Barbados.”
A Region United in One Festival
CARIFESTA XV, under the theme “Caribbean Roots. Global Excellence,” is more than a festival; it is a roving cultural summit for the Caribbean and its diaspora.
This year’s programme includes:
- Four Super Concerts featuring regional icons and international artists
- The CARIFESTA Film Festival and outdoor screenings
- Daily Fashion Shows and Caribbean couture exhibitions
- The Grand Market & Trade Hub, the largest in CARIFESTA history
- A robust Youth Village with intergenerational creative programming
- The Big Conversations Symposia, tackling Caribbean identity, climate, and innovation
- Culinary showcases highlighting food from across the Region
- Sustainability activations with a future-forward, eco-conscious approach
Barbados will transform into a living gallery of Caribbean excellence, hosting over 25 participating countries, including delegations from Ghana, Cuba, Brazil, and Colombia, as well as creatives and audiences from the Caribbean diaspora.
Your Invitation to Experience CARIFESTA XV in Barbados
Festival goers can enjoy a seamless, vibrant, and immersive experience that blends Caribbean tradition and innovation, with top-tier accommodations, world-renowned hospitality, and year-round sunshine.
Media Kit and Accreditation
Media partners covering CARIFESTA XV in Barbados are invited to complete the accreditation form here.
A media kit with the calendar of events can be downloaded below:
Plan your trip and explore festival events at: https://www.visitbarbados.org/
Full programme details and event updates available at: https://www.carifesta.net/
In her congratulatory message to Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Philip Davis, Secretary-General Barnett also recognised the country’s notable economic progress, which she says will undoubtedly accelerate its growth and development.
Commending The Bahamas’ commitment to sustainable development, she highlighted the nation’s efforts to protect its natural ecosystems. This commitment is exemplified by Prime Minister Davis’s historic signature on the United Nations (UN) Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation, and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean (Escazú Agreement) on 5 June 2025, she stated.
Dr Barnett also noted its ratification of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).
“This demonstrates your country’s commitment to sustainable ocean governance and its connectivity to tourism, for which you hold responsibility in the CARICOM Quasi-Cabinet,” the Secretary-General said.
The full message reads as follows:
]]>Prime Minister,
On behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), I warmly congratulate the Government and People of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas on the country’s Fifty-Second Anniversary of Independence, which is being celebrated under the theme, “Together We Rise”.
This year’s theme emphasises the importance of national unity and shared purpose, vital for advancing The Bahamas’ national development goals. The diligence, solidarity, creativity, and innovation of the Bahamian People have been key to the nation’s success.
This Anniversary aligns with a period of notable economic progress for The Bahamas, which will, undoubtedly, build even greater confidence in The Bahamian economy, fostering further economic growth and development.
I commend your Government’s efforts in protecting the country’s natural ecosystems and promoting sustainable development. In this regard, I acknowledge your historic signature, Prime Minister, of the United Nations (UN) Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation, and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean (“Escazú Agreement”) on 5 June 2025.
Note is also taken of The Bahamas’ ratification of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). This demonstrates your country’s commitment to sustainable ocean governance and its connectivity to Tourism, for which you hold responsibility in the CARICOM Quasi-Cabinet.
CARICOM remains grateful for your country’s tangible support for the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti, and the Eminent Persons Group (EPG).
As the Community navigates the evolving global political dynamics, we anticipate The Bahamas’ continued contribution to deepening regional cooperation as together we rise as a Region.
I extend my best wishes to your Government and People for continued success, peace, and prosperity.
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.
Outgoing Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, closed out her six-month tenure with a rallying cry for regional solidarity and action in the face of global uncertainty.
Speaking on July 6 at the opening of the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where Caribbean leaders first met in 1947 to lay the foundations of regional integration, Prime Minister Mottley reflected on her journey from a “young romantic idealist” and “fervent believer of the regional integration movement” to a more seasoned, though still hopeful, advocate for CARICOM solidarity.
“Our Community has perhaps seen more challenges in these past seven years than at any time since independence,” she said. “But if ever there was a time for regional solidarity, it is absolutely now.”
Highlighting several achievements in trade and economic cooperation during her tenure, the Outgoing Chair said that CARICOM is now poised to finalise long-awaited revisions to the Common External Tariff (CET) and Rules of Origin, crucial trading instruments that protect regional industry while lowering the cost of essential goods for production.
Commending the Council for Trade and Economic Development and the Community Council for completing the work on these critical tools for intra-regional trade, she said now is the time for political decision on what items can see reduced tariff rates without undermining regional production.
Prime Minister Mottley also commended the Regional Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) for responding to the trade tensions stemming from U.S. actions on Chinese-made shipping vessels, including a 500-member strong participation in a Zoom discussion.
Through advocacy with the U.S. government involving CPSO and the CARICOM Secretariat, the Community secured a temporary stay of the imposition of fees exceeding US$1 million per US port call. This stay reduced the risk of trade and supply-chain disruption and increased inflation in the Region.
]]>Chair of the Committee, Director General of CARIFORUM, Ms. Alexis Downes- Amsterdam, explained that the programme is the first of its kind for the Caribbean region. Developing tools to mitigate against the negative impacts of climatic events on public health has been a major focus.
Mr. Luca Trinchieri, Team Leader for the Green Deal Partnership with the Caribbean at the Delegation of the European Union to Barbados, Eastern Caribbean States, the OECS, CARICOM and CARIFORUM, lauded the achievements of the Programme and expressed appreciation to the implementing partners for the work done.
The Steering Committee is comprised of the Programme implementing agencies Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) as well as CARIFORUM, the EU and the representatives of CARIFORUM States.
Under the Programme, CARIFORUM States have benefited from initiatives that address air quality, youth projects tackling recycling, food security, wetland protection and aquaponics, early warning systems, surveillance and safety plans and the training of public health professionals.
]]>The mission was headed by Ms. Alexis Downes-Amsterdam, Director General of CARIFORUM, and was undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Barbados. The CARIFORUM team also included representatives from the EU EPA and UK EPA Programmes.
During the visit, the team engaged a cross-section of national stakeholders including representatives of key government agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Ministry of Agriculture, Customs and Excise Department and business support organisations.
Discussions focused on the administrative and legal measures required for Barbados to fully implement the agreements and implementation challenges. The CARIFORUM team provided technical guidance on advancing the required measures and addressing the challenges.
The CARIFORUM Directorate’s targeted support was also intended to ensure that Barbados is not only compliant with its EPA obligations but also equipped to translate market access into market presence and tangible long-term economic opportunities. Support to CARIFORUM States includes technical assistance to advance priority measures, targeted capacity building to boost export readiness and institutional strengthening to help CARIFORUM States maximise the opportunities available under the Agreements.
Signed in 2008, the Economic Partnership Agreement between the CARIFORUM countries and the European Union is a fundamental cornerstone in this relationship to boost trade and investment between the two regions.
The CARIFORUM-UK EPA was signed in 2021 with the aim of maintaining the trading relationship between CARIFORUM States and the United Kingdom post-BREXIT.
]]>The CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr Carla Barnett and the COTED Chair will deliver remarks at the opening session of the Meeting.
The agenda of the Meeting is packed with critical trade matters including the proposed implementation of the revised Common External Tarriff (CET), progress of the Sectoral Working Group reviewing CARICOM Rules of Origin and reports from the Monitoring Mechanisms on Sugar, Cement and Rice.
CARICOM ministers will also address compliance with the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and decisions of COTED as CARICOM works to enhance the operations of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
Other key discussions will centre around a draft Industrial Policy and Strategy for 2025-2030, and issues related to the free movement of Community nationals. An update will also be provided on a recently commissioned consultancy to assess the impact and potential benefits of the CSME. This study is being funded by the European Union under the 11th EDF.
Additionally, the Council will review several external trade matters, including developments at the World Trade Organisation, implications of the America First Trade Policy for CARICOM trade and economic prospects, and negotiations to expand preferential market access under the Agreement on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation between CARICOM and the Government of Colombia.
Tune in the view the opening session of the meeting on Tuesday June 10, 2025.
Kindly note the details below:
WHAT: Opening – 60th Regular Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development
WHEN: Tuesday 10 June 2025 | 10.00 am AST
Virtual access: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu8qozU2cJE
About COTED:
The CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) is responsible for advancing trade and economic growth within the Community. It oversees the operation of the Single Market and Economy in accordance with the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. Additionally, the Council evaluates, promotes, and establishes measures to enhance production, quality control, and marketing of regional industrial and agricultural commodities to ensure their competitiveness on the global stage.
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A nine-member team, led by Ms. Dora James, Supervisor of Elections from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, oversaw the elections. On polling day, the team visited 136 polling stations across six districts: Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Paramaribo, Saramacca, and Wanica.
The CEOM observed that voting was generally conducted in an orderly manner, with most polling staff efficiently performing their duties. Despite some operational and staffing challenges, the General Elections of May 25, 2025, were peaceful and conducted in an atmosphere of robust civic engagement and camaraderie among the Surinamese people.
You can read the preliminary statement of the CEOM to Suriname’s 2025 parliamentary elections by clicking the link: Preliminary Statement | CARICOM Election Observation Mission to the 2025 General Elections in the Republic of Suriname – CARICOM
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