CARICOM Heads 43rd Regular Meeting Opens

PARAMARIBO, SURINAME – Prime Minister Philip Davis is expected back home tonight from the 43rd Regular Meeting of CARICOM.

Climate change taking centre stage at the first in-person discussion between CARICOM Heads of Government following the 2020 onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Sasha Lightbourne attending the opening ceremonies Sunday and tells us that the climate issue is expected to dominate talks over the next few days.

As CARICOM heads meet this week in Suriname, climate change and its impact on island states is top priority.

Mitigating that impact – the focus of regional leaders including Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley, and our very own Prime Minister Philip Davis. Both leaders taking the region’s plight to the world stage ahead of this meeting, using various platforms.

CARICOM Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett says now more than ever the world must pay attention and listen to the region before it’s too late.

Barnett’s comments coming at the opening ceremonies of the 43rd Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government. United Nations’ Secretary General Antoni Guterres , who was also in attendance, agreeing that global leaders must act now.

As for Prime Minister Davis, who also addressed the opening ceremonies – his first time since being elected chairman in September 2021 – his message was one of togetherness as a way to fight all regional issues.