Outgoing Commonwealth Secretary-General Bids Farewell to CARICOM Leaders

Scotland’s Tribute to CARICOM Leaders

Outgoing Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland KC bid farewell to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders, describing them as “powerhouse within the Commonwealth.”

Addressing the CARICOM Summit

Addressing the plenary session of the CARICOM summit, which ends here later on Friday, Scotland, in an emotional speech, paid tribute to the strength, unity, and leadership of the leaders and thanked them for their support and solidarity with the 56-member Commonwealth, an association of independent countries that work together to promote democracy, peace, and development.

Progress in Climate Resilience and Economic Development

Praising their progress in climate resilience and economic and sustainable development, she said the Caribbean has solidified its position at the forefront of tackling global challenges.

Outgoing Secretary-General’s Achievements

The Dominican-born Secretary-General steps down from her role at the end of March. When she took office in 2016, she promised to advocate for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and put it at the heart of the Commonwealth’s mission.

Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH)

Among the achievements she highlighted at the summit was the expansion of the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH), which was conceived a decade ago by an Eminent Persons Group led by former President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo, who now serves as Vice-President of the country.

Championing the Caribbean’s Priorities

Reflecting on her nine-year tenure, the Secretary-General said championing the Caribbean’s priorities on the global stage had been the most incredible privilege of her life.

Commonwealth Meridian and SMART Tool

“I am also immensely proud of the Commonwealth Meridian, which streamlines public debt management. Commonwealth Meridian enhances transparency and accountability and supports informed decision-making for our member countries. And through our reformed and digitized Meridian, we have provided technical support to help Caribbean nations manage public debt sustainably.”

Fully Utilizing Commonwealth Secretariat’s Program

The outgoing Secretary-General is also encouraging member governments to fully utilize the Commonwealth Secretariat’s program to boost the efficiency of public services and improve performance management.

Conclusion

In her farewell address, Scotland expressed her gratitude to CARICOM leaders for their support and solidarity with the Commonwealth, and acknowledged the significant progress made in climate resilience and economic development in the Caribbean region.

FAQs

* What is the Commonwealth?
The Commonwealth is an association of independent countries that work together to promote democracy, peace, and development.
* What is CCFAH?
CCFAH is the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub, which helps Commonwealth member countries to unlock funding for climate resilience and sustainable development.
* What is the Commonwealth Meridian?
The Commonwealth Meridian is a program that streamlines public debt management, enhances transparency and accountability, and supports informed decision-making for member countries.
* What is the SMART tool?
The SMART (Strategic Management and Accountability Results Toolkit) is a proprietary software developed by the Commonwealth Secretariat to help member countries implement an effective Government Performance Management System.