We express grave concern over Israel’s recent decision to seize and maintain control of Gaza City, a step that risks prolonging the conflict, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, and further endangering the lives of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas. Any such action, amounting to de facto annexation, would deepen the unfolding famine and result in the deprivation of necessities, severe malnutrition, and starvation, as well as the displacement or death of millions of Palestinians.
Reports of the targeted killings of journalists and media workers in Israeli attacks, coupled with the prevention of international news organisations from entering Gaza, are of significant concern. The COFCOR underscores that such actions impede independent verification of the situation on the ground and reaffirms that the bombardment of any civilians violates international humanitarian law.
We continue to call for an immediate, unconditional, and sustained ceasefire with unimpeded humanitarian access. We urge all actors to pursue diplomatic efforts to facilitate a durable solution and reaffirm CARICOM’s unwavering commitment to a two-state solution as the only viable path to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
The COFCOR stands in solidarity with all victims and reiterates its support for the legitimate aspirations for security and stability of all Israelis, Palestinians, and peoples in the Middle East.
12 August 2025
]]>He invited partners to support economic recovery in key sectors such as infrastructure, the green economy, innovation, education and training, cultural tourism, and security, particularly in the greater north and greater south.
At the closing press conference on 8 July, following the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government in Montego Bay, Jamaica, both the Chairman of CARICOM, Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica, and the President-Counsellor highlighted the critical issues and opportunities facing Haiti.
Prime Minister Holness expressed CARICOM’s deep concern over the ongoing situation in the country, stating,
“We continue to be gravely concerned. CARICOM has been very vocal in its call for international support and has been working with Haiti to ensure that its needs and concerns are being addressed.”
He informed the media that in their “detailed discussion” with the President-Counsellor, Heads of Government were apprised of the work of the Council towards strengthening security, holding a referendum on the reform of Haiti’s constitution, and elections in November.
Mr. Saint Cyr outlined the factors necessary to secure a safe and sustainable future in his country, stating,
“Haiti, today, needs the Region to speak with one voice in defence of security, peace, and sustainable development.”
He expressed gratitude to the countries that have already contributed personnel to the Multinational Security Support Mission and those offering training for the Haitian National Police.
At the same time, he pleaded for a redoubling of efforts to restore peace and security in Haiti through training, financial assistance, logistical, and technical support.
Mr. Saint Cyr said that Haiti is also counting on the Community to intensify advocacy with other regional and international partners for rigorous regional cooperation to control the illicit flow of arms and ammunition and combat drug trafficking.
“Haiti relies on its friends and international partners, especially within CARICOM, for the restoration of security, the organisation of elections, and long-term support for national reconstruction. It is together through a united front of coherent sustainable and solidaristic actions that we will be able to face this crisis and deliver on the major priorities of Haiti’s transition,” he stated.
“I welcome the discussions and the shared consensus that Haiti’s security depends on investments including foreign direct investment to address structural causes on insecurity. Haiti remains a land of opportunity,” he added.
Mr. Saint Cyr reaffirmed his commitment to working alongside his colleagues at the TPC toward a successful transition, noting that Haiti is ready to fully assume its responsibilities, but it will not succeed alone.
]]>The Forty-Ninth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was held in Montego Bay, Jamaica from 6-8 July under the chairmanship of Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica.
Members of the Conference in attendance were: Honourable Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda; Honourable Philip Davis, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas; Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Barbados; Honourable John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize; His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana; His Excellency Laurent Saint-Cyr, Councillor-President, Member of the Transitional Presidential Council, Haiti; Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica; Honourable Terrance Drew, Prime Minister, Federation of St Kitts and Nevis; and Dr the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Dr Vince Henderson, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Energy represented the Commonwealth of Dominica; Honourable Joseph Andall, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Export Development represented Grenada; Honourable Veronica Dorsette Hector, Deputy Premier, represented Montserrat; Honourable Alva Baptiste, Minister of External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs represented Saint Lucia; His Excellency Steven MacAndrew, Minister of Labour, Employment Opportunity and Youth Affairs represented the Republic of Suriname; Honourable Sean Sobers, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs,represented the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Associate Members in attendance were Honourable E David Burt, Premier of Bermuda; Dr the Honourable Natalio Wheatley, Premier of the British Virgin Islands, His Excellency Gilmar Pisas, Prime Minister of Curacao; and Honourable Jamell Robinson, Deputy Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
OPENING CEREMONY
The Opening Ceremony was held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St James. The event featured remarks by leaders of the Community, and cultural items from several Jamaican performers. There was also a Declaration of solidarity from the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors for Jamaica which underscored their preparedness and desire to support the leaders of the Region in its development, prioritizing creativity, innovation and technology.
In her remarks, CARICOM Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett noted that the collective action of CARICOM Member States has delivered many commendable results for the people of the Region, in human and social development, economic integration, foreign policy coordination, and security, which provide a useful roadmap for the way forward.
“Unprecedented global uncertainty, economic pressures, technological innovations that challenge our capacity to keep pace, climate vulnerability, and the needs of our young people, our women and future generations, compel us to act collectively, with courage and with conviction,” the Secretary-General said.
Prime Minister of Barbados and Outgoing Chair, Honourable Mia Amor Mottley noted that CARICOM has seen many challenges and urged the gathering to persevere and persist in efforts to advance and strengthen integration. Quoting from popular Jamaican artiste, Jimmy Cliff, she said “We can get it if we really want, but we must try and try and try.”
She pointed to support for Haiti, efforts to control disinformation, and the need to tackle crime and enhance citizen security, as some of the critical issues which the Community must continue to address. “We must be resolute in preserving CARICOM as a Zone of Peace and reaffirm our commitment to working with the international community to promote de-escalation, uphold diplomacy, and pursue lasting solutions grounded in dialogue and mutual respect”.
In his remarks, the new Chair, Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness said his Chairmanship would focus on regional security, especially as it relates to transnational organised crime and gangs, noting that it is critical that a global war on gangs be declared similar to the war on terror. The Prime Minister called for concerted action to dismantle criminal networks and cripple their resources.
“Our theme: People, Partnerships and 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; that people-centered development and strategic partnerships are not aspirational, but essential,” the Prime Minister said.
He cited climate justice and climate finance, mobilizing support for Haiti, and strengthening internal coordination and external partnerships as critical to the ongoing work of the Community. Prime Minister Holness also stressed the importance of engaging young people in shaping the decisions that affect their future. He reminded that it was important to engage them in a deliberate, sustained and meaningful manner.
The opening ceremony can be viewed at: https://caricom.org/49hgc/
CARICOM SINGLE MARKET AND ECONOMY (CSME)
Implementation of Full Free Movement
To advance the goal of free movement of all Community nationals, Heads of Government, in accordance with the provisions of the Protocol on Enhanced Cooperation, authorised Barbados, Belize, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Participating Member States, to, among themselves, grant their nationals the right to enter, leave and re-enter, move freely, reside, work and remain indefinitely in the receiving Member State without the need for a work or residency permit. Their nationals will also be able to access emergency and primary health care, and public primary and secondary education, within the means of the receiving Member State.
The Participating Member States have agreed that the required legislative, security and administrative measures to support the free movement of their nationals will be undertaken and that free movement among them will commence on 1 October 2025.
Heads of Government also agreed to include aviation personnel among the categories of skilled Community nationals entitled to move freely within the Community under Article 46 of the Treaty. This category includes aircraft maintenance engineers, professional pilots, air traffic controllers, and flight operations officers.
EXTERNAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS
The Heads of Government discussed developments in United States (US) trade policy which have introduced a marked shift in the bilateral trade relations which have been underpinned by the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) trade preferential programmes for more than four decades. They agreed to continue the Community’s advocacy with the US Administration at the highest political level, to safeguard the Region’s trade interests with its most important trading partner.
They welcomed the tabling of a request by the US for a five-year WTO waiver for the CBI until 30 September 2030 and agreed that the Region would continue to engage constructively with the US Trade Representative to address the future bilateral trade relationship.
Heads of Government also agreed to deepen engagement with existing trading partners through the Joint Institutions established under the trade agreements concluded with these countries. They further agreed to pursue new market opportunities with non-traditional trading partners, in particular the African Union, Brazil and India.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND CLIMATE FINANCE
Heads of Government congratulated the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre on its 20th Anniversary and recognised its significant support to the climate agenda of CARICOM Member States.
They emphasised that CARICOM will continue to focus on the special circumstances of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). They registered their concern at the apparent erosion of support amongst several governments of the developed world for the special circumstances of SIDS, and underscored that CARICOM negotiators must continue to make the case for those circumstances across the Climate Agenda.
They called on major economies to take urgent action to increase the ambition of their Nationally Determined Contributions in line with the outcomes of the first Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement, and to fast-track implementation to keep 1.5 within reach.
The Conference registered support for the Global Biodiversity Alliance Summit to be convened by the Government of Guyana in Georgetown from 23 -25 July 2025.
As it relates to Climate Finance, Heads of Government reaffirmed support for the Bridgetown Initiative and reform of the international financial architecture, including an increased CARICOM representation in financial decision-making bodies.
Heads of Government expressed concern at the rising cost of insurance, insisting that it is a major barrier to climate resilience and threatens the viability and competitiveness of businesses in the Region.
They called for a significant portion of the $300 billion mobilisation goal under the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) decision to be channeled through the multilateral climate funds under the UNFCCC, and for finance to be targeted to adaptation and loss and damage for SIDS.
They acknowledged that COP 30 must serve as a vehicle to mobilise climate finance that is predictable and accessible that prioritises SIDS and LDCs and is responsive to the Region’s needs and priorities.
Heads of Government approved the Revised Regional Framework prepared by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center which outlines the strategic goals and priority actions to build regional climate resilience.
Heads of Government noted the recent publication of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) Advisory Opinion on “Climate Emergency and Human Rights”. The Advisory Opinion creates a legal framework for States to address the climate crisis from the human rights perspective. Through the Advisory Opinion, the IACHR has acknowledged the climate crisis as a threat to individuals and peoples which creates a legal framework for States to align climate policies with human rights.
FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY
Heads of Government approved the Formulation and Design Plan to expand the Vision 25 by 2025+5 food and nutrition security initiative. This Plan will allow for, inter alia, enactment of cross-cutting regional policies to support the sector including investment, establishment of businesses and movement of people; expansion of the stakeholder base to attract new capital and increased funding; and re-alignment of regional and national agricultural priorities.
His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana in keeping with his responsibility for food and nutrition security in the CARICOM Quasi-cabinet, outlined several successful Member State projects under the initiative in the last two years. He reported a marked region-wide increase in the involvement of women and youth in agriculture, and in nursery capacity, and commended regional governments for their commitment to the Initiative.
Heads of Government expressed their appreciation to President Ali for his continued dedication to the 25 by 2025+5 initiative. They welcomed the recent study identifying Guyana as the only food-sufficient country in the world as a plus for the Region’s efforts at food and nutrition security.
They noted that the Inter-American Board of Agriculture, at its forthcoming 23rd regular meeting in Brasilia in November 2025, was scheduled to elect a new Director General for the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) for the period 2025 to 2030. They reaffirmed their full and unequivocal support for the candidacy of Dr Muhammad Ibrahim of Guyana, as one eminently qualified for the post, and called on other hemispheric partners to lend their valuable support for his election.
ENGAGEMENT WITH SPECIALLY INVITED GUESTS
His Excellency Valdecy Urquiza, Secretary-General of the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL)
Secretary-General Urquiza expressed his appreciation for the exchange with CARICOM. He reported that data shared by INTERPOL member countries and regional analysis show that the rise of criminal networks, narcotics trade and a surge in firearms trafficking are three of the most pressing security threats confronting Caribbean nations. He reported that the IMPACS/INTERPOL partnership agreement now guarantees the continued presence of INTERPOL’s Liaison Office in Barbados, representing a renewed and sustainable framework for long-term collaboration.
Heads of Government expressed their appreciation for his presence and perspectives. They acknowledged the existing and potential benefits of increased collaboration to deal effectively with major organised crime.
They requested further assistance of INTERPOL with technology deployment and monitoring mechanisms to support border protection measures.
They noted Guyana’s announcement that it would be hosting the scheduled INTERPOL Conference in 2026.
His Excellency Albert Ramdin, Secretary General of the Organization Of American States (OAS)
The Secretary-General thanked the Region for its active engagement in his election. He gave a comprehensive presentation addressing the challenges facing the global and hemispheric environments, including climate change, development financing, migration, threats to multilateralism, sovereignty and territorial integrity, political instability, and particularly, the unprecedented levels of uncertainty.
Heads of Government warmly congratulated the Secretary-General on the assumption of his new role, noting he was the first from CARICOM to be so designated. They welcomed his recommendation for the development of a Caribbean Community agenda in preparation for the Tenth Summit of the Americas, scheduled for December 2025 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
THE SECOND CARICOM-AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT
The Summit is to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 7 September 2025, which is also Africa -CARICOM Day. Heads of Government agreed to prioritise representation at the highest level and emphasised the importance of the ongoing engagement with the African continent.
A coordinating committee, to include Jamaica, Barbados and St Kitts and Nevis, along with the CARICOM Secretariat, will work with representatives of Ethiopia and the African Union Commission to advance the logistical and other preparations for the Summit.
Heads of Government encouraged engagement with the Caribbean diaspora in Ethiopia and the participation of representatives of Regional Pan-African organisations.
SECURITY ISSUES
Heads of Government adopted the Montego Bay Declaration on Transnational Organised Crime and Criminal Gangs (accessible via: https://caricom.org/montego-bay-declaration-transnational-organised-crime-and-gangs-6-8-july-2025-jamaica/ ) in keeping with their commitment to dismantle criminal networks that have been impacting peace and security across the Region.
They acknowledged that the Declaration, together with the 2024 George-Bridge Declaration of the Second Regional Symposium on Crime and Violence as a Public Health Issue, and the 2023 Needham’s Point Declaration, comprise the principles of a new Regional Security and Judicial Framework.
The Conference welcomed the report presented by the High-Level Representative on Law and Criminal Justice, as well as the outcomes of the first dialogue held between Heads of Government and Heads of Judiciary from across the Region.
Regional Centre of Excellence for Policing
Heads of Government received a proposal from Barbados for a Regional Centre of Excellence for Policing. The Centre would be a hub for skills and leadership training for police officers who will, in turn, use these skills to implement best police practices and drive behavioural/ cultural change in policing in their respective jurisdictions.
The Centre would be headquartered in a CARICOM jurisdiction and agency best positioned with existing infrastructure, capacity and other factors.
THE SITUATION IN HAITI
Heads of Government expressed grave concern over the degeneration of the humanitarian situation in Haiti, which now borders on famine. They committed to redouble the efforts of CARICOM Heads of Government to engage with all relevant actors for the mobilisation of resources for security support, and to provide direct humanitarian assistance.
They received an update from the Transitional Presidential Council on its activities and welcomed clarity on the situation provided by the CARICOM Eminent Persons Group.
They also received a proposal from the Secretary General of the OAS and noted commitments made through the OAS from several Latin American countries of direct and technical assistance to the Kenya-led MSS Mission and the Haitian National Police. Heads of Government agreed that urgent action is needed on the humanitarian crisis in Haiti and called on international partners to pay attention and to provide support which is needed to bring security and stability to Haiti.
REGIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY
Heads of Government noted the progress made towards developing a regional telecommunications strategy. To further advance this, they mandated the Working Group to also look at the role of Public Private Partnership Arrangements to finance the required investment in telecommunications infrastructure.
They also noted the need to finalise regulatory frameworks in conjunction with national regulatory authorities.
BORDER ISSUES
Belize – Guatemala and Belize – Honduras
Heads of Government received an update on the Belize – Guatemala and the Belize – Honduras cases before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Conference also received, with concern, a report from Belize regarding the increased tensions in the Sarstoon River and the repeated maritime incursions by the Guatemalan military into Belize’s territorial and internal waters.
They underscored the obligation of Belize and Guatemala to refrain from any action which could exacerbate the dispute while the case is before the ICJ and reiterated the call for both countries to urgently fulfil their commitment to design a mechanism of cooperation for the Sarstoon River and maritime spaces, with the assistance of the OAS.
Heads of Government also expressed concern about the continued illegal activities by Guatemalans that result in the deforestation of Belize’s protected areas and biodiversity loss along the Belize-Guatemala border.
They acknowledged the valuable role of the OAS in accompanying the process of confidence building measures and called on the international community to increase support for the OAS Office in the Adjacency Zone.
Heads of Government reaffirmed their steadfast support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of Belize.
Guyana- Venezuela
Heads of Government received an update on the latest developments concerning the Guyana-Venezuela controversy. They noted that although Venezuela purported to have held elections on 25 May 2025 for a “Governor” and “Legislative Council” in the so-called “Guayana Esequiba State”, in defiance of the May 1, 2025 order of the International Court of Justice, in fact no elections were held by Venezuela in the Essequibo region of Guyana.
Heads of Government encouraged Venezuela to submit its Rejoinder, the final written pleading in the case, by 11 August 2025, in compliance with the scheduling Order of the International Court of Justice.
Heads of Government reiterated their full support for the ongoing judicial process as the means for resolving the controversy peacefully, finally and in accordance with international law.
Heads of Government reiterated and underscored their unequivocal and unwavering support for the maintenance of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana.
COMMON LEGISLATION INITIATIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Heads of Government expressed concern about the deleterious effect that social media and artificial intelligence (AI) generated images could have on children and vulnerable groups, and the recent cessation of efforts at content moderation by Big Tech companies.
They agreedto pursue a regional approach to develop a framework for digital safety and associated laws, to safeguard the mental health and wellbeing of Caribbean citizens, and to establish a Regional Digital Safety Commission to develop proposals to enhance online safety.
REPARATIONS
Heads of Government expressed their full support for Jamaica’s undertaking to file a petition to King Charles III for the referral of three questions to the Privy Council related to the United Kingdom’s (UK) historic mistreatment of enslaved Africans on plantations in Jamaica. It was agreed that this approach was another path toward seeking Reparatory Justice and that it carried potential to contribute to the CARICOM regional approach as set out in the Ten Point Plan
FINANCIAL REGUALTORY PROCEDURES
Heads of Government reiterated their commitment to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing, including through strengthened regulatory and policy measures, as well as through partnerships at regional, bi-regional and multilateral levels. They recognised that Anti-money Laundering (AML) measures are critical for maintaining financial integrity. Heads of Government noted the significant reforms undertaken by Caribbean States to fully address the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the OECD’s tax transparency standards.
They further noted that Member States’ efforts have been acknowledged by the recent full delisting of Barbados and Jamaica by FATF, as well as by the European Commission’s recommendation to the European Parliament, via its Delegated Regulation of June 2025, that these two Caribbean countries be delisted.
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
Heads of Government thanked the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) and Ferry Operators NSG for their detailed proposal on the operations of a regional ferry service. They agreed to establish a Sub-Committee comprising Heads of Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, to work with the CPSO and NSG to develop financial proposals to have an operational ferry service.
They also agreed to establish a Sub-Committee of the Foreign Ministers of Barbados, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago, to address the free movement of intra-regional trade, including customs procedures, insurance and drivers’ licenses to facilitate the smooth operation of the ferry service.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
Heads of Government commended the British Virgin Islands on their completion of the governance reform programme and noted the difficulties posed by the Order in Council that can impose direct colonial rule on the BVI.
Heads of Government agreed to expedite negotiations with Bermuda on its application for full membership.
CARICOM INDUSTRIAL POLICY
Heads of Government noted the ongoing work to prepare a CARICOM Industrial Policy and Strategy, which will promote government interventions and policies to encourage, support, coordinate and improve the capability of specific industries, sectors and firms to achieve and sustain regional competitiveness.
REGIONAL POPULATION COMMISSION
Heads of Government noted the ongoing efforts to establish a Regional Population Commission, which is expected to inform a CARICOM Population Policy to address projected population trends, and formulate strategic approaches to reconciling population growth with regional development objectives.
CARIFESTA XV
Heads of Government welcomed the update provided on CARIFESTA XV to be held from 22 -31 August in Barbados under the theme “Caribbean Roots – Global Excellence”. Heads of Government expressed full support to Barbados for its hosting of CARIFESTA XV.
THE ENHANCED ROLE OF YOUTH IN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Heads of Government noted that a report has been prepared by youth of the Region on the enhanced role of young people in the Community.
The report was informed by regional consultations and calls for youth to be more incorporated in Caribbean development through structured and well-resourced action, and for youth development to be embedded as a core pillar of regional integration and progress.
CARICOM EDUCATION TRANSFORMATION COMMISSION
Heads of Government noted a report on the steps taken so far to establish a Commission to drive a unified equity-based regional education agenda. They looked forward to its early convening.
SURINAME
Suriname advised that its new President, Her Excellency Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, the first female to hold this position, will be sworn in on 16 July 2025. Outgoing President, His Excellency Chandrikapersad Santokhi, expressed his appreciation to the Conference, the CARICOM Secretar- General, staff of the Secretariat, and the wider CARICOM family, for their enduring partnership and solidarity.
The Government of Suriname underscored its ongoing commitment to the ideals and goals of the integration movement.
Heads of Government registered their thanks and appreciation to the outgoing President for his commitment and partnership in support of regional integration.
CONDOLENCE
The Conference expressed its condolences to the loved ones and colleagues of Rickey Singh, a Caribbean son of the soil and journalist, who passed away on 5 July 2025 in Barbados. They noted his passionate advocacy for CARICOM, and that his dedicated reporting and analysis of regional issues facilitated a deeper understanding of the Caribbean Community.
INVITATION
The Conference noted an invitation from Grenada to the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) to be held July 28 – 29, 2025.
APPRECIATION
Heads of Government expressed their gratitude to the Government and people of Jamaica for the excellent arrangements made for the Meeting, and the warm hospitality they received.
DATE AND VENUE OF NEXT REGULAR MEETING
Heads of Government accepted the invitation of the Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis to the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference in Basseterre from 25 – 27 February 2026.
DECLARATION
The Conference issued the following Declaration:
TRANSNATIONAL ORGANISED CRIME AND GANGS
JULY 6-8, 2025
JAMAICA
We, the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) meeting in Montego Bay, Jamaica from July 6-8, 2025, on the occasion of the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM:
Remaining deeply concerned and alarmed bythe surge of gun crime and violence across the Caribbean region, driven by the proliferation of illegal firearms and activities of gangs and/or organised criminal groups, which continue to pose a serious threat to the region, its institutions of governance, and the very fabric of our societies,
Underscoring our commitmentto addressthe concerns of our peoples, regarding the impact of organised crime and illicit trafficking on their communities, livelihood, and security,
Cognisant of the current global security threats and the potential impact on the stability and socioeconomic progress of our societies,
Recalling the decision to collaborate on implementing measures to address crime, violence, and national security, and the implications for public health, that directly result from gang activities and the illegal importation of guns into our region,
Renewing ourcommitment tostrengthening the Region’s response by implementing effective measures to monitor new trends in illicit firearms trafficking, enact robust legislation to include stringent penalties for firearm and gang-related offences, and to strengthen public awareness on the issues relating to the prevention and prosecution of all forms of organised criminal activities,
Determined to create societies characterised by productivity, prosperity, peace, and security,
1. Reaffirm our commitment to continue efforts to complete a comprehensive review of the criminal justice system to, inter alia, address criminal terrorists with a focus on the proactive management of investigations, prosecutions, and sentencing, while also expanding programmes aimed at the early identification and positive redirection of young people who may be at risk of social exclusion or vulnerability to crime;
2. Agree to strengthen the regional institutional security structures, to include the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), and implementation of programmes such as the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), to effectively enhance collaboration and sharing of information, to disrupt criminal networks, as well as, leverage shared resources to enable law enforcement and support border security efforts;
3. Reinforce national anti-gang strategies to more effectively monitor and disrupt gang movement and their linkages to cross border firearm-related crimes within CARICOM;
4. Recognise the importance of undertakingthe development or amendment of national legislation to effectively combat gun crimes, the illicit trade in arms and ammunition, trafficking offences in all forms, especially human trafficking as one of the most heinous crimes against humanity;
5. Commit to the development and implementation of comprehensive counter-narcotics strategies, through enhanced cooperation, resource sharing, and sustained policy engagement.
6. Resolve to integrate into the formal economy, rule of law, and governance systems, under governed spaces that provide, or can provide safe havens to criminal organisations.
Issued in Montego Bay, Jamaica on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, on the occasion of the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
STATEMENT
Heads of Government issued the following Statement:
STATEMENT FROM THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM) HEADS OF GOVERNMENT ON THE HUMANITARIAN CATASTROPHE IN GAZA
We, the Heads of Government of CARICOM, are profoundly distressed by the escalating and appalling situation in Gaza, now an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. We express grave concern over the immense, unabated suffering and tragic loss of civilian lives, particularly women and children.
CARICOM has consistently called for an immediate, unconditional, and sustained ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access. These urgent calls have largely gone unheeded, leading to a crisis of unparalleled proportions. Relentless military operations, including indiscriminate bombardment and direct attacks on aid-seeking civilians, flagrantly violate international humanitarian law.
We are appalled by UN and humanitarian reports depicting widespread hunger, disease, and displacement, deliberately exacerbated by deprivation of basic necessities such as food, water, medicine. Critical fuel shortages further threaten to halt all lifesaving services. The weaponization of essential resources is morally repugnant, intolerable and unconscionable.
We unequivocally condemn all violence against civilians, including the abhorrent 7 October 2023 attacks and hostage-taking. We equally condemn the disproportionate military response, actions contravening international law, and systematic undermining of peace by illegal settlement expansion. The unacceptable dismantling of humanitarian mechanisms, replacing UN-led coordination with military control, demonstrably leads to further civilian casualties.
CARICOM reaffirms its unwavering commitment to a two-state solution as the only viable path to comprehensive, just, and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, consistent with UN Security Council Resolutions and international law. We lament the belligerent and continued disregard for these resolutions, urging the international community to redouble efforts for strict adherence and enforcement.
We, the Heads of Government, urgently demand an immediate ceasefire. There must be full, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza, ensuring vital aid, including fuel, medical supplies, food, and water, reaches all in need without delay. We call for an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and detainees. We demand an end to forced displacement of Palestinians and protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law. It is imperative that there is accountability for all violations of international law, with perpetrators brought to justice.
We, the Heads of Government, reiterate our solidarity with all victims and urge maximum diplomatic efforts for a durable solution to the legitimate security and humanitarian concerns of all parties. The international community cannot stand idly by while this catastrophe deepens.
CARICOM stands ready to support all constructive initiatives for a lasting peace that meets the legitimate aspirations for security, dignity, and stability of all Israelis, Palestinians, and peoples in the wider Middle East.
8 July 2025
####
Dated: 11 July 2025
]]>CARICOM has consistently called for an immediate, unconditional, and sustained ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access. These urgent calls have largely gone unheeded, leading to a crisis of unparalleled proportions. Relentless military operations, including indiscriminate bombardment and direct attacks on aid-seeking civilians, flagrantly violate international humanitarian law.
We are appalled by UN and humanitarian reports depicting widespread hunger, disease, and displacement, deliberately exacerbated by deprivation of basic necessities such as food, water, medicine. Critical fuel shortages further threaten to halt all lifesaving services. The weaponization of essential resources is morally repugnant, intolerable and unconscionable.
We unequivocally condemn all violence against civilians, including the abhorrent 7 October 2023 attacks and hostage-taking. We equally condemn the disproportionate military response, actions contravening international law, and systematic undermining of peace by illegal settlement expansion. The unacceptable dismantling of humanitarian mechanisms, replacing UN-led coordination with military control, demonstrably leads to further civilian casualties.
CARICOM reaffirms its unwavering commitment to a two-state solution as the only viable path to comprehensive, just, and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, consistent with UN Security Council Resolutions and international law. We lament the belligerent and continued disregard for these resolutions, urging the international community to redouble efforts for strict adherence and enforcement.
We, the Heads of Government, urgently demand an immediate ceasefire. There must be full, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza, ensuring vital aid, including fuel, medical supplies, food, and water, reaches all in need without delay. We call for an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and detainees. We demand an end to forced displacement of Palestinians and protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law. It is imperative that there is accountability for all violations of international law, with perpetrators brought to justice.
We, the Heads of Government, reiterate our solidarity with all victims and urge maximum diplomatic efforts for a durable solution to the legitimate security and humanitarian concerns of all parties. The international community cannot stand idly by while this catastrophe deepens.
CARICOM stands ready to support all constructive initiatives for a lasting peace that meets the legitimate aspirations for security, dignity, and stability of all Israelis, Palestinians, and peoples in the wider Middle East.
Agreed 8 July 2025
Montego Bay, Jamaica
]]>Remaining deeply concerned and alarmed bythe surge of gun crime and violence across the Caribbean Region, driven by the proliferation of illegal firearms and activities of gangs and/or organised criminal groups, which continue to pose a serious threat to the Region, its institutions of governance, and the very fabric of our societies,
Underscoring our commitmentto addressthe concerns of our peoples, regarding the impact of organised crime and illicit trafficking on their communities, livelihood, and security,
Cognisant of the current global security threats and the potential impact on the stability and socioeconomic progress of our societies,
Recalling the decision to collaborate on implementing measures to address crime, violence, and national security, and the implications for public health, that directly result from gang activities and the illegal importation of guns into our Region,
Renewing ourcommitment tostrengthening the Region’s response by implementing effective measures to monitor new trends in illicit firearms trafficking, enact robust legislation to include stringent penalties for firearm and gang-related offences, and to strengthen public awareness on the issues relating to the prevention and prosecution of all forms of organised criminal activities,
Determined to create societies characterised by productivity, prosperity, peace, and security,
1. Reaffirm our commitment to continue efforts to complete a comprehensive review of the criminal justice system to, inter alia, address criminal terrorists with a focus on the proactive management of investigations, prosecutions, and sentencing, while also expanding programmes aimed at the early identification and positive redirection of young people who may be at risk of social exclusion or vulnerability to crime;
2. Agree to strengthen the regional institutional security structures, to include the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), and implementation of programmes such as the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), to effectively enhance collaboration and sharing of information, to disrupt criminal networks, as well as, leverage shared resources to enable law enforcement and support border security efforts;
3. Reinforce national anti-gang strategies to more effectively monitor and disrupt gang movement and their linkages to cross-border firearm-related crimes within CARICOM;
4. Recognise the importance of undertakingthe development or amendment of national legislation to effectively combat gun crimes, the illicit trade in arms and ammunition, trafficking offences in all forms, especially human trafficking as one of the most heinous crimes against humanity;
5. Commit to the development and implementation of comprehensive counter-narcotics strategies through enhanced cooperation, resource sharing, and sustained policy engagement.
6. Resolve to integrate into the formal economy, rule of law, and governance systems, undergoverned spaces that provide, or can provide safe havens to criminal organisations.
Issued in Montego Bay, Jamaica on Tuesday, 8 July 2025, on the occasion of the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
]]>It is for this reason, that the Community must continue to strongly advocate for climate justice and climate finance. Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, who assumed the Chairmanship of CARICOM on 1 July 2025, pledged that his country will be a “strong advocate” on the climate front. He made the commitment at the opening ceremony of the Forty-ninth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM on 6 July in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Climate finance, a matter of “the Region’s survival and prosperity”, was one of the key items on the agenda of the Meeting.
“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 overtime, and therefore climate changing now is nothing new. But last year, just around this time, Jamaica was staring down the earliest forming and perhaps 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. The impact of this has to be understood at the fiscal level, need for financing, but certainly because of our size,” he pointed out during his address at the opening of the Conference.
Dr Holness added that as the Region prepares for COP30 in Brazil later this year, “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.”
]]>“The proposed CARICOM Education Transformation Commission was also discussed. This is devised to drive a unified equity-based education reform agenda across the Region. In particular, we discussed how it can be operationalised in a manner that ensures its sustainability and does not compound the requirements of Member States.”
Dr The Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP,Chair, CARICOM, Prime Minister, Jamaica
In a strong show of leaders’ commitment to education transformation, CARICOM Chair and Prime Minister of Jamaica, Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, ON, PC, MP, announced the advancement of a bold initiative to enhance education across the Caribbean Community: the CARICOM Education Transformation Commission.
Speaking at the closing media conference of the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government, held from 6–8 July in Montego Bay, Prime Minister Holness confirmed that the Commission was a key topic of discussion among regional leaders.
He emphasised that the body is intended to drive a unified, equity-based reform agenda for education, designed to uplift learning outcomes and create consistent educational opportunities across Member States.
“In particular, we discussed how it can be operationalised in a manner that ensures its sustainability and does not compound the requirements of Member States,” stated Dr Holness.
The proposed Commission signals a renewed commitment to education as a cornerstone of regional development and social equity. The CARICOM Chair explained that leaders explored collaborative approaches that will ensure long-term success and impactful implementation without overextending national capacities.
During the Meeting’s opening ceremony on Sunday, Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, SC, MP, Prime Minister of Barbados underscored that the Caribbean Educational Transformation Commission must be established as a matter of urgency, as the current educational system is not “fit for purpose” for today’s citizens.
She posited that data and evidence should inform necessary changes to give young people the best possible chance.
Helpful Links:
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
Video | Closing Media Conference of the 49th Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government | Montego Bay, Jamaica
The European Parliament on Wednesday delisted the two CARICOM Member States and several other countries. The European Commission had updated its list of jurisdictions last month. The list takes the legal form of a delegated regulation upon the imprimatur of the European Parliament.
“We have been actively advocating for such a decision. One which reflects the reality of the hard work we have undertaken to strengthen our financial systems. This is yet another demonstration of the strength of our partnership with the EU, a partnership I am committed to deepening even further as Chair of CARICOM,” Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica said on X (formerly Twitter) in response to the development.
At the closing press conference of the Forty-ninth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM on Tuesday, 8 July in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Prime Minister Holness had referred to the global architecture for money laundering and the slowness in the full materialisation of the decision of the European Commission.
He placed the Heads of Government Meetings in the context of working collectively towards the solution to challenges such as those related to the fulfilment of the commitments under the global financial architecture.
]]>“Sometimes it’s very difficult for the public to relate with this exercise of bringing regional heads together because it all looks so officious and so way above every everybody’s grasp and understanding of the issues because the issues can often times seem so remote. It doesn’t seem as if it deals with the bread-and-butter issues. But take for example the bread-and-butter issue of being able to conduct banking transactions with ease and convenience.
“For the average person the overbearing regulations are a great frustration and they could easily conclude it is just the inefficiency of government why we have to fill out so many documents and provide so many forms of identification and answer so many questions to transfer $100, not understanding that there is a global architecture for anti-money laundering and other requirements imposed on states by various global entities and it affects not just Jamaica; it affects an entire Region. This is a problem that is right across the Region and therefore governments have to come together regionally to interface with these global bodies and lobby on your behalf so that the regulation requirements can be much more efficient and simpler for the average person to be able to interface with the financial system,” he said.
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.
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