UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to Address CARICOM Leaders
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres
UN Secretary General to Address CARICOM Leaders
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, will address Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders at their three-day summit in Barbados next month, the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat announced Wednesday.
Special Guest and Agenda
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will be the special guest of the regional leaders at their February 19-21 summit, which will be chaired by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley.
Opening Ceremony and Business Session
Mottley, the outgoing CARICOM chairman, Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, the recently elected Premier of Montserrat, Reuben Meade, and CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett will also address the opening ceremony of the summit, which will be held at the Lord Erskine Sandiford Centre on the outskirts of the capital, Bridgetown.
The summit’s business session will be held at the Wyndham Grand Barbados, Sam Lords Castle in St Philip, at the easternmost end of the island.
Summit Theme and Agenda
The summit will be held under the theme “Strength in Unity: Forging Caribbean Resilience, Inclusive Growth, and Sustainable Development. ” The CARICOM Secretariat said the regional leaders would discuss “several pressing issues” for the community.
Agenda Items
These include food and nutrition security, climate change and the climate finance agenda, the ongoing challenges in Haiti, security issues, digital resilience, external relations matters, and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
Other issues, such as maritime and air transport and reparations, will also be on the agenda.
Focus on CARICOM Single Market and Economy
The Secretariat said that Prime Minister Mottley set the tone for CARICOM’s focus over the next six months when her New Year’s message highlighted the need for the region to resume the full implementation of the CSME, which allows for the free movement of goods, skills, labor, and services across the regional bloc.
Conclusion
The CARICOM summit is expected to be a significant event, bringing together regional leaders to discuss pressing issues and forge a path forward for the community.
FAQs
* When is the CARICOM summit taking place?
+ The summit will take place from February 19-21 in Barbados.
* Who will be addressing the opening ceremony?
+ Mottley, Mitchell, Meade, and CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett will be addressing the opening ceremony.
* What is the theme of the summit?
+ The theme is “Strength in Unity: Forging Caribbean Resilience, Inclusive Growth, and Sustainable Development. ”
* What issues will be discussed at the summit?
+ The regional leaders will discuss several pressing issues, including food and nutrition security, climate change, and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).