CARICOM heads of government meeting commences Sunday in Guyana

By Caribbean News Global contributor

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The 46th regular meeting of the Conference of CARICOM heads of government commences Sunday, February 25 at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown, Guyana, at 5 pm.

President of Guyana Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, will deliver the feature address. Dr Carla Barnett, CARICOM Secretary-General, and Roosevelt Skerrit, outgoing chairman of CARICOM and prime minister of Dominica, will also address the gathering.

The CARICOM chairman, as lead head of government with responsibility for Agriculture and Food and Nutrition Security in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet, will update the meeting on the Community’s 25 by 2025 initiative to tackle the rising food import bill and improve intra-regional trade.

Related: Guyana to assist St Lucia’s housing deficit, regional connectivity, food distribution hub

The heads of government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) from February 25- 28, 2024 will discuss  CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), climate change, regional security, agriculture and food and nutrition security and regional integration.

The situation in Haiti and border issues; regional transportation; financial matters, including replenishment of the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF); global and hemispheric issues including developments in the Middle East; reparations; and the 2024 ICC Men’s T-20 Cricket World Cup.

Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Terrence Drew, arrived with his delegation on Saturday. “We were greeted by Guyana minister of local government and regional development Anand Persaud and other key officials with a Guard of Honour Ceremony upon arrival,” prime minister Drew said.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne arrived in Guyana Saturday, accompanied by ambassador to CARICOM Dr Clarence Henry said that heads will also discuss the Guyana-Venezuela border issue along with the Belize-Guatemala demarcation claim.

Heads of government will hold discussions with the meeting’s special guest, His Excellency Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil, as well as with other high-level guests.