According to the Treaty of Chaguaramas, of the Caribbean Community shall be open to any other State or Territory of the Caribbean Region that is, in the opinion of The Conference, able and willing to exercise the rights and assume the obligations of.
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19 May 2022 / 0
Head of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ad Hoc Committee on Security and Other Related Matters for Cricket World Cup 2007, the Honourab le Mia Mottley, Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados, has identified the Barbados based Join t Regional Communications Centre (JRCC) as one of the major legacies of CWC 2007. Ms. Mottley made this disclosure while addressing members of the Press in Barbados on April 30th .Noting that the majority of the security arch itecture for CWC 2007 was being taken...
11 December 2019 / 16
The eighth of December marks the anniversary of the historic establishment in 1972 of diplomatic relations with Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, the four independent Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries at that time. Taken at the height of the Cold War tensions, that act of political courage and independence broke the hemispheric exclusion of Cuba. It also initiated a relationship based on friendship, solidarity, cooperation and neighbourliness that has withstood the...
26 November 2019 Reference Number: 168/2019 / 22
(The enclosed press release is issued on behalf of SCLAN) The Spouses of the CARICOM Leaders Action Network (SCLAN) participated in the Nairobi Summit, a high- level conference on the 25th Anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) that took place in Nairobi Kenya from 12-14 November 2019.The goal of the conference was to advance reproductive health, women's empowerment and gender equality for sustainable development. The Summit...
13 November 2019 / 44
Ministers with responsibility for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have agreed to collectively approach the Region’s telecommunications providers to eliminate roaming charges throughout the Community. This is one of the priorities which they identified as an early benefit with respect to achieving a CARICOM Single ICT Space.At a Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (ICT) on Friday, by video-conference, the Ministers agreed that this would...
24 October 2019 / 60
Caribbean Community Education Ministers meet this Wednesday and Thursday in Guyana with measures to govern successful implementation of the CARICOM Human Resource Development Strategy high on their agenda. The CARICOM Human Resource Development (HRD) 2030 Strategy is a long term regional policy framework, endorsed by Heads of Government in 2017, to lead the development of human resources in the Caribbean Community. The Strategy is expected to help create a globally competitive...
24 October 2019 / 94
Speakers at the opening of a capacity-building workshop on Monday in Barbados underscored the value of entrepreneurship as a means of youth social and economic empowerment.The capacity-building workshop, also marked the official closing of the Crime and Violence Component of the EU-funded CARIFORUM Crime and Security Programme.The workshop is using the CARICOM “homegrown” Creative Entrepreneurship Business Opportunity (CEBO) model to build the capacity of 30 youth,...
14 October 2019 / 126
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is deeply concerned over the protracted political crisis in Haiti and is awaiting the country’s imprimatur for a good offices Prime Ministerial delegation to visit.Chairman of CARICOM, the Hon. Allen Chastanet, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, and the CARICOM Secretariat, both confirmed the decision for a team to visit Haiti. PM Chastanet told the Jamaica Gleaner last week that a technical team was being established for a fact-finding mission, but...
11 October 2019 / 18
Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Hon Gaston Browne has emphasised that financial reparations were the best way for colonisers to make amends for the wrongs they had committed. The Prime Minister was speaking at the opening of a symposium titled “Western Banking, Colonialism and Reparations” at the Jolly Beach Hotel in Antigua and Barbuda on Thursday.The CARICOM Secretariat and CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC), in collaboration with...
09 October 2019 / 36
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is giving new life to the Declaration of Paramaribo on the Future of Youth in CARICOM issued by Heads of Government in January 2010, and the Report of the CARICOM Commission on Youth Development of the same year.Both identified entrepreneurial development as a priority for countering youth unemployment and mitigating harmful behaviours such as drug abuse, crime and violence.The Commission on Youth had pin-pointed the latter as the number one concern among...09 October 2019 Reference Number: 138/2019 / 492
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana, 8 October 2019 Several At- Risk Youth in Suriname, the first of three Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) of ACP States, will benefit from capacity building in animation and digital media at a training workshop which runs from 8-11 October 2019, in Paramaribo. Training will also be done in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.The training is an activity of the Crime and Violence Project (CVP)_ Component of the CARIFORUM-EU...
08 October 2019 / 1176
As the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat continues to work with Member States, as well as regional and international stakeholders to implement programmes aimed at improving citizen security, it is moving apace with initiatives to address recidivism and youth unemployment. Two workshops with this purpose are being conducted in Kingston, Jamaica from the 7th to 12th October 2019 at the Medallion Hall. Their implementation results from a partnership among the CARICOM Secretariat;...
08 October 2019 / 3819
Extract from the CARICOM Business Newsletter, Vol 2 No 40 (for week ending 4 October 2019)The merchandise trade balance in Belize recorded a slight downturn for the first eight months of 2019 relative to the corresponding period in 2018. Merchandise imports for January to August 2019, amounted to $1.3 billion, repre-senting a 3.2% or $40 million increase from the same period last year. On the other hand, merchandise exports for the period January to August 2019 totaled just above $298...07 October 2019 / 460
St, John’s, Antigua, Oct. 7, 2019….The CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC) in collaboration with the Centre for Reparation Research (CRR) and the Antigua & Barbuda Reparations Support Commission will convene a one-day symposium in Antigua and Barbuda on the topic, “Western Banking, Colonialism and Reparations.” The symposium will take place at the Starfish Jolly Beach Hotel on Thursday, Oct. 10, and will explore the historical roots of Western banks in the...
03 October 2019 / 1651
Small Island Developing States, often referred to as SIDS, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and how the IAEA can help in these areas were the main topics of discussion during IAEA Acting Director General Cornel Feruta’s visit to New York this week.Today, he attended the High-Level Meeting to review progress made in addressing SIDS priorities through the implementation of the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway.“Partnerships...
02 October 2019 / 3111
Investment officials from CARICOM Member States are this week attending the CARICOM Forum on International Investment Agreements in Barbados. The 30 September to 2 October conference is examining reform of international investment agreements (IIAs) including investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS).Recognising the importance the Caribbean Community attaches to foreign investment that promotes sustainable development, the Forum is seeking to better position CARICOM countries to engage on...
13 September 2019 / 3211
On Monday, 9 September 2019, the first of five country workshops under the theme “Rethinking Masculinity, Understanding Gender Equality as a Means of Ending Gender-Based Violence in Caribbean Schools” opened in Trinidad and Tobago under the auspices of the CARICOM Secretariat, with support from the European Union’s 10th EDF Crime and Security CARIFORUM Project, and the Office of the Prime Minister (Gender and Child Affairs), Trinidad and Tobago. This initial workshop will...
12 September 2019 / 4182
(CARICOM Secretariat, 12 September 2019) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has reiterated its call for international financial institutions to accept that the vulnerability of Small Island and low-lying coastal Developing States (SIDS), should be the main criterion for eligibility for concessional development financing, instead of GDP per capita.As yet another CARICOM Member State reels from an extreme climate-related disaster, Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has lamented –...
11 September 2019 / 4152
Tuesday 10 September 2019 (PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat): The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), the mechanism that provides a structured and unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV epidemic, convened the Second joint regional dialogue with parliamentarians, faith leaders, civil society leaders, national AIDS programme managers and youth leaders in Port-of-Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on 10 September 2019.Mr Ian Ramdahin...
05 September 2019 / 3314
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Chairman and Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister Honourable Allen. M. Chastanet will on Thursday September 05th lead a High Level delegation to The Bahamas, which has been ravaged by Hurricane Dorian over the past few days.The slow-moving hurricane brought strong winds, heavy rain and a life-threatening storm surge to The Bahamas, flooding homes and entire villages; with the death toll linked to the hurricane rising to seven.CARICOM and OECS Member Countries...03 September 2019 / 3160
Today, the hearts of the people of the Caribbean are heavy. Once again one of our Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States has been devastated by a dangerous hurricane as our Region continues to experience the effects of climate change.Initial reports from The Bahamas indicate that the country has taken a severe battering from Hurricane Dorian with five deaths reported thus far in what Prime Minister Hubert Minnis has described as “a historic tragedy”.As Chairman of...
01 September 2019 / 2418
Extract from CARICOM Business: Vol 2 No 35The Jamaican economy recorded growth of one per cent in the April to June 2019 quarter, extending Jamaica's growth trend to 18 consecutive quarters or four-and-a-half years. That’s the word from Dr. Wayne Henry, Director General, Planning Institute of Jamaica. Growth in the economy was however negatively affected by drought conditions, which led to a 2.5% contraction of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing industry & impacted further by...
25 August 2019 / 2642
A feature story from CARICOM Business Vol 2 No 34Passengers arriving at the Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados will no longer be required to fill out immigration/customs forms, also known as ED forms, as of September 1 after a recent Cabinet decision gave the nod for the use of the forms to be scrapped. According to Minister of Home Affairs Edmund Hinkson, starting next month, there will be a full transition to the use of the 48 kiosks at the airport. He advised that the...
19 August 2019 / 2979
From CARICOM Business Newsletter Vol 2 No 33The CSME is not a dream. “First of all, for those who say that we’re in a dream, I would urge them to wake up, because guess what, it’s a reality and it’s happening.” That’s the emphatic declaration of CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General for Trade and Economic Integration, Joseph Cox. In a recent television interview on CNC3 in Trinidad, Cox cited some of the gains that have already been realized by the...
15 August 2019 / 2539
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is deeply shocked and saddened by the recent mass shootings that took place in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, in the United States, and which resulted in the loss of 31 lives.CARICOM condemns in the strongest terms these heinous attacks which have deeply shaken the affected communities. The Community extends its deepest sympathies to the relatives and friends of those who lost their lives and wishes a full and speedy recovery to the injured.The Community...
13 August 2019 / 2640
The second edition of the CARICOM Trader Magazine has been issued.The CARICOM Trader Magazine features quarterly trade updates, articles and information to support the efforts of individual traders, farmers, and producers, as well as independent professionals, cultural practitioners, private sector firms and businesses to capitalize on the many trade and commercial opportunities across the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Your on-line copy can be accessed...
09 August 2019 Reference Number: 124/2019 / 2326
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Evidence based policy decisions and a multi-sectoral approach to address youth crime particularly in schools were underscored by Guyana’s Second Vice President and Minister for Public Security, Hon Khemraj Ramjattan, when he addressed the official opening of the crime and violence prevention mitigation training, on 8 August 2019, in Georgetown, Guyana.The consultation is an activity of the...
08 August 2019 / 2340
A national consultation with stakeholders from the business and public sectors (primarily the Ministries of Education and Public Security) in Guyana to agree on crime and violence prevention mitigation training in primary schools will be held on 8-9 August 2019, at the Roraima Duke Lodge, in Georgetown, Guyana.The consultation is an activity of the Crime and Violence Project component of the CARIFORUM–EU Crime and Security Programme under the Tenth European Development Fund. This...
05 August 2019 / 2557
CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has congratulated the Government and People of Jamaica on the celebration of the country’s 57th Anniversary of Independence on 6 August.“Jamaica’s contribution to the global community, particularly in the fields of culture, music, sports and academia, is testimony to the skills, talents and industrious nature of its citizens. These have been applied to contribute to the development of the country since the attainment of...
29 July 2019 / 3724
Efforts to address the issue of Human Trafficking in the CARIFORUM Region are being bolstered with a new study on Human Trafficking that is expected to provide a greater understanding of the problem within and across its borders.Canadian firm, Dunn, Pierre, Barnett and Company, Canada Limited, has been engaged by CARIFORUM to conduct the comprehensive study. The countries involved include Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic Grenada, Guyana, Haiti,...
26 July 2019 / 2381
Transforming Tax Administrations in the Age of Digitalization is the focus of the 25th Biennial General Meeting and Technical Conference of the Caribbean Organisation of Tax Administrators (COTA), being held in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The TCI’s Revenue Department is hosting the 22-26 July 2019 event.COTA Conferences debate important technical issues of current concern to its membership, which is drawn from Member States and Associate Members of the Caribbean Community. The issues...
20 July 2019 / 2784
Plans are advancing for the Headquarters of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat to be fully powered by solar energy by the end of 2020.Commencing next February, installation of a photo voltaic system as well as an energy management mechanism will begin at the CARICOM Secretariat’s Headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana. It is part of a wider programme that is supported by the Government of Japan to improve renewable energy and power supply systems in Guyana.It is anticipated...
19 July 2019 / 2582
The CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) and the Commonwealth Secretariat have collaborated to build the capacity of over 110 participants from Trinidad and Tobago and over 300 regional participants to prevent and counter violent extremism in the Region, at a three-day Course on 23rd - 25thJuly 2019 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Titled: Preventing Violent Extremism Course in CARICOM, the course advances the CARICOM Counter...05 July 2019 / 2510
The arbitrary imposition of tax governance and anti-money laundering rules by countries and groups of countries other than the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), without meaningful consultation with the affected States, is unacceptable.This was the position of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, during his address to the opening ceremony of the 40th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM. The...
05 July 2019 / 2727
(CARICOM Secretariat) Resilience and sustainable development were at the heart of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General (SG), António Guterres’ address to the 40th Regular Meeting of Caribbean Community Heads of Government, which opened in Saint Lucia on 3 July 2019. Climate-related disasters and their impacts on families; murder rates; violence among women and girls; and concessional development financing were among the issues raised by the UNSG.In connecting the...
05 July 2019 / 2804
Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis and outgoing Chairman of the CARICOM Conference of Heads, Dr. Timothy Harris has said that the Region’s engagement in the attempts at resolving the situation in Venezuela has demonstrated that there is a role for CARICOM to play.Dr. Harris was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 40th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM being held in Saint Lucia, 3-5 July, 2019.He outlined that the CARICOM Heads, Foreign Ministers and...
05 July 2019 / 2729
In setting the tone for the 40th CARICOM Heads of Government Summit which opened in Saint Lucia on Wednesday, 3 July, Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, said that CARICOM’s journey is recognised as the standard bearer by other developing countries seeking to build their own regional integration arrangements.“From across the globe, they have come to study our systems, our institutions, and our integration movement as a model for improving theirs. They understand that...
05 July 2019 / 1541
04 July 2019 / 2533
In setting the tone for CARICOM Heads of Government Summit which opened in Saint Lucia on Wednesday 3 July, CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque said that CARICOM’s integration journey is recognised as the standard bearer by other developing countries seeking to build their own regional integration arrangements. “From across the globe, they have come to study our systems, our institutions, and our integration movement as a model for improving theirs. They...
04 July 2019 / 3001
(CARICOM Secretariat) “The most important question we must ask ourselves as leaders is: How do we recapture the imagination of our people? How do we truly make CARICOM the driving force of change? Have we done everything within our control to assure the prosperity of our region and to the benefit of our citizens? Can we say we are satisfied with our current status? Do we believe that all our citizens or even the majority are satisfied? Are we achieving our full potential? We must...__300x195.jpg "CARICOM Secretary-General, Amb. Irwin LaRocque, addresses the opening of the 40th Regular Meeting of Heads of Government")
04 July 2019 / 2686
(CARICOM Secretariat) The 40th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government, opened on Wednesday evening under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Allen Chastanet of Saint Lucia, at the Royalton St Lucian Resort, with strong calls to strengthen regional integration mechanisms.In the first of four addresses during the opening ceremony, CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque said the Community’s resilience must reside within the CARICOM Single Market and...
04 July 2019 / 2589
I consider it a great honour to preside over this 40th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of the Caribbean Community.I want to welcome our specially invited guests to this conference and hope that this experience enables you to gain a deeper insight into what we as Caribbean people are facing so that we may gain your understanding and support.Let me also thank outgoing Chairman, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, The Honourable Timothy Harris, for his stewardship of the organization...
04 July 2019 / 2712
Let me at the outset express my sincere appreciation to the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia and Chair of the Caribbean Community, the Honourable Allen Chastanet, his Government and people, for the generous hospitality and the excellent arrangements put in place for our Meeting. I speak on behalf of my colleague Heads of Government when I say that I am confident that, given the conducive and salubrious environment provided, we will have a most productive and fruitful Meeting. I am...
03 July 2019 / 2555
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General (SG) António Guterres addressed the opening of the Fortieth Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government on 3 July in Saint Lucia, focussing on issues related to climate change and other obstacles to sustainable development.The UNSG in zeroing on the issue of climate change, called for collective advocacy to ensure that global temperature rise does not go beyond 1.5 degrees; new models of economic development and affordable reliable energy access...
03 July 2019 / 2537
CARICOM Heads of Government begin their 40th Regular Meeting in Saint Lucia on Wednesday with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as Special Guest Speaker at the Opening Ceremony.The Ceremony, expected to set the tone for two packed days of discussions on pressing economic development and international relations matters, will also be addressed by the incoming CARICOM Chairman, Prime Minister Allen Chastanet of Saint Lucia, outgoing Chairman, Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris...
02 July 2019 / 2555
Guyana Chronicle)LIFE has not always been smooth sailing for Vishal Hulbert Joseph, who was forced to make a few decisions that would prove crucial to his future endeavours. In fact, at just 17, he was practically on his own, pursuing sixth form studies and a job at the same time.Vishal shared his story just recently with the Guyana Chronicle, and he could not help but reflect on how well his life has turned out, even though he had quite a few bumpy roads to travel.A...
02 July 2019 / 2787
(Guyana Chronicle) THE Communities Development Council (CDC) of the mining town of Linden on Sunday hosted an inaugural CARICOM parade and exhibition in observance of CARICOM Day, today.The parade saw participation from Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.Those representing these countries were delegates who will participate in a...
01 July 2019 / 2496
Under the theme “Moving away from Tokenism – Youth a Critical Part of Decision Making”, the annual Youth Dialogue between the Region’s young people and the CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque was held on Monday 1 July 2019, in Saint Lucia.Saint Lucia’s Youth Ambassadors McAllister Hunt and Ezbai Francis coordinated the two-hour session with a live audience of young Saint Lucians at the studios of the Government Information Service and an active...
30 June 2019 / 2259
St. Vincent and the Grenadines swept the Male and Female categories in the 14th CARICOM 10-K road race in Saint Lucia, Sunday, with female runner Linda McDowald recording a hattrick of victories in the event.Secretary-General with 1st Place Male Winner Junior Ashton Mc Dowald crossed the finish line in 40.40 to add to earlier victories in the 12th and 13th editions, held in Guyana and Jamaica respectively. She also placed second in the 11th edition in Barbados, behind Guyanese Andrea...
27 June 2019 / 2262
Young people across the region will once again have an opportunity to raise pertinent issues with the Secretary General of the Caribbean Community in a public Forum. The Secretary General will be engaging with the youth in the annual “Ask SG” event which is usually held just ahead of the Regular Meeting of the Conference of the CARICOM Heads of Government. This year “Ask SG’ will be held on 1 July, 2019 at the Saint . Lucia Government information Service’s Studio....
26 June 2019 / 3357
The CARICOM Competition Commission (CCC) was established under Article 171 of the Revised Treat of Chaguaramas (RTC) of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). In anticipation of the growth in trade and investments which was expected to emerge from the introduction of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), CARICOM took the decision to enhance its competition laws and policy and this was the basis for the introduction of the CCC. The CCC was inaugurated in...
20 June 2019 / 2479
Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque exchanged notes with Ms. Ulrike Metzger, Head of Division, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development in regard to two projects funded by Germany.The funds support use of energy efficient appliances in CARICOM through services of a regionally coordinated quality infrastructure and the continuation and strengthening of activities under the Coastal and Aqua Terrestrial Solutions (CATS) Project...
19 June 2019 / 2101
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has extended congratulations to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, His Excellency Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, on the occasion of his inauguration into office.In a message to Mr Tokayev, Ambassador LaRocque congratulated him on his victory in the country’s June 9 presidential elections. Mr Tokayev was sworn in to Office on June 12. The Secretary-General told the President that Kazakhstan and...
19 June 2019 / 2460
President David Granger, this morning, met with CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque at the Ministry of the Presidency. The President indicated to Ambassador LaRocque that his Government respects the rule of law and will abide by the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). “I am prepared to comply with every ruling of the court,” the President said. President Granger committed to the holding of credible elections and noted that he will be...
14 June 2019 / 2227
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, Honourable Bruno Rodriguez on Friday 14 June said his country feels it has a “permanent debt of gratitude” to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for its historical and fraternal support.“We recognize your resolute and irrevocable decision to join us in rejecting the genocidal economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against our country and the fair claim to put an end to it,” he told...
14 June 2019 / 1708
We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Republic of Cuba, having met in Georgetown, Guyana, on June 14th, 2019, on the occasion of the Sixth CARICOM-Cuba Ministerial Meeting.Recalling the Summit Declarations of Havana 2002, Bridgetown 2005, Santiago de Cuba 2008, Port of Spain 2011, Havana 2014 and St. Mary’s 2017; as well as the periodic meetings of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of CARICOM and Cuba; and highlighting their indisputable...
14 June 2019 / 3020
We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Republic of Cuba, having met in Georgetown, Guyana, on June 14th, 2019, on the occasion of the Sixth CARICOM-Cuba Ministerial Meeting.Recalling the Summit Declarations of Havana 2002, Bridgetown 2005, Santiago de Cuba 2008, Port of Spain 2011, Havana 2014 and St. Mary’s 2017; as well as the periodic meetings of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of CARICOM and Cuba; and highlighting their indisputable...
14 June 2019 Reference Number: 90/2019 / 2536
The Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBSI) Technical Working Group on Crime Prevention wrapped up its ninth meeting on 13 June, in the Dominican Republic, committing to specific actions to advance its priorities related to juvenile justice reform, strengthening evidence for crime prevention, community level youth violence prevention and reduction.Under the theme Youth, Women and Vulnerable Populations Driving Peace and Justice, the meeting issued an Action Statement which...
12 June 2019 / 2514
Colombia’s new Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Wednesday said her country will make every effort to participate in the Caribbean mega festival of arts: CARIFESTA XIV, scheduled for August 16-25 in Trinidad and Tobago.Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque extended the invitation to Her Excellency Martha Pinilla, as he received her credentials at the Georgetown, Guyana Headquarters of the CARICOM Secretariat.Underscoring the importance of people-to-people...
10 June 2019 / 2073
In a quest to make one of the Region’s most iconic cultural events, the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) more standardised, a permanent logo has been designed and approved for the Festival.The approval was given by Ministers of Culture and Officials at the recently-concluded meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) in Georgetown, Guyana.Traditionally, each CARIFESTA host country was required to design a logo to be used in their branding of the Festival,...
08 June 2019 / 2357
Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dr the Honourable Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, has hailed the election of St Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations Security Council as a victory for small states.“The importance of multi-lateral fora being seen to cater for all nations is critical to their credibility”, the Chairman said. St Vincent and the Grenadines, CARICOM’s candidate, was elected to the non-permanent seat reserved...
07 June 2019 / 2525
Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has welcomed the election of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to the Security Council of the United Nations (UN), as an opportunity for a small state to bring a unique perspective to threats to international peace and security.“I congratulate Prime Minister Gonsalves and his team and the diplomats of our Member States on this successful bid by a CARICOM candidate”, Ambassador LaRocque said. The...
07 June 2019 Reference Number: 84/2019 / 2230
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, has reiterated that culture played a significant role in the Region's sustainable growth and development.He was speaking at the opening of the Thirty-Sixth Meeting of the Council on Human and Social Development (COHSOD) on Thursday, 6 June 2019, at the CARICOM Headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana.The two-day meeting is being held under the...
07 June 2019 / 2385
Friday, June 7, 2019 is celebrated as ACP Day..The Georgetown Agreement establishing the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States was signed on Friday, June 6, 1975 in Georgetown, Guyana.46 countries signed the Agreement, 37 African, 6 Caribbean and 3 Pacific. Today, the ACP, headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, has a membership of 79 countries, 48 African, 16 Caribbean and 15 Pacific.[caption id="attachment_36349" align="alignleft" width="300"] ACP General Secretary Dr P.I....
06 June 2019 / 2087
Article by the CARICOM Secretariat's Sustainable Development UnitThe International Community will mark World Oceans Day on June 8th under the theme “Together we can protect and restore our oceans”. This theme resonates with the spirit of the Revised Treaty of collective effort for the benefit of all Caribbean people. Ocean management should be no different. The importance of the Caribbean marine environment has been exemplified on several occasions globally...
05 June 2019 / 2148
World Environment Day 2019 – Beat Air PollutionWorld Environment Day which takes place annually on June 5 is the United Nations day encouraging worldwide awareness and action to protect our environment. It first began in 1974, and is now widely celebrated in over 100 countries including several CARICOM countries. The theme for this year’s celebration of World Environment Day 2019 calls for action at the local, national and global level to Beat Air PollutionThe choice for this...
04 June 2019 / 2210
Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque and Germany’s Ambassador to the Community His Excellency Holger Michael exchanged Letters of Agreement in respect of a financial contribution of 25,500,000 euros from the German Development Bank (KfW) to the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF).The exchange took place at the CARICOM Secretariat’s, Georgetown, Guyana Headquarters on Tuesday during Ambassador Michael’s farewell call on the...
31 May 2019 / 2167
Message of Condolence from CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque on the passing of the former Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Honourable Edward Seaga: “The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) mourns the passing of the former Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Honourable Edward Seaga, ON.Jamaica’s fifth Prime Minister, Mr. Seaga made an indelible contribution to the development of his country in many spheres. Constitutionally, Politically, Financially,...
20 May 2019 / 2359
The CARICOM Secretary-General and Heads of Caribbean Community Institutions met in Georgetown, Guyana on Monday, with Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque stressing the importance of building cohesion to ensure benefits accrue to the people of the Community.This ninth Meeting was held as the Region assesses the progress and lessons learnt from its first Community Strategic Plan which comes to an end this year. The Secretary-General, in urging full support by the Institutions, noted...
14 May 2019 Reference Number: 75/2019 / 2354
I welcome you all to this Twenty-Second Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR). I am confident that I can speak on your behalf in thanking the Hon. Peter David and the Government and People of Grenada for the generous hospitality and excellent arrangements that they have put in place to facilitate this Meeting.I wish to extend a special welcome to the Honourable Dr. Karen Cummings, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana, who is attending the COFCOR for the...
14 May 2019 Reference Number: 74/2019 / 2168
It is with distinct pleasure that I have been able to preside over this very important organ of the Caribbean Community, the Council for Foreign and Community Relations, for the past twelve months.When we met last May in Nassau, I underscored The Bahamas’ commitment to regional, hemispheric and international organizations, whilst promoting and maintaining close relations with our neighbours. It is safe to say that we managed to achieve this, having had ongoing discourse over...
14 May 2019 Reference Number: 73/2019 / 2381
A warm welcome to you all, and in particular, a warm welcome to my fellow Foreign Ministers, His Excellency Irwin LaRocque and his team to the Isle of Spice, Grenada. I am sure that this is not the first time that many of you have visited. As I recall, the last COFCOR hosted by Grenada was in 2006, and Grenada was also host to the Conference of Heads in July of 2017.This time I urge you to take a few brief moments aside from our intense deliberations to savour Pure Grenada, the...
03 May 2019 / 2878
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) remains united in its desire for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Venezuela.Underscoring that point, the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia the Honourable Allen Chastanet said despite the differences on certain aspects of the issue, the Community’s guiding principles were supported by all Member States.These principles which the Community reiterated in a statement on the situation in Venezuela issued on Friday are non-interference and...
03 May 2019 / 2782
Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis delivered remarks to the Nineteenth Special Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government on Security which began on 3 May 2019, in Trinidad and Tobago.Prime Minister Harris who is the current Chair of the Conference noted that the meeting was taking place against the backdrop of “deep concern about the level of crime in the Community and the need to strengthen cooperation in security”.“There is...crop__300x195.jpg "Dr. the Hon. Keith Rowley Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago ( front,l), arrives for the Nineteenth Special Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, 3 May 2019, Trinidad and Tobago")
03 May 2019 / 2484
The Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at its Nineteenth Special Meeting, which opened on 3 May 2019 in Trinidad and Tobago, will focus on Security, specifically the management of the Regional Security Framework.Delivering remarks to the meeting, Dr. The Hon. Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and Lead Head with responsibility for Crime and Security, reiterated that Heads were aware that the sustainable development of the Community depended...
30 April 2019 / 2502
CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has expressed CARICOM’s interest in the renewal of legislation for the extension of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) and the WTO waiver beyond December 2019 to allow continued duty-free access to the US market.The Secretary-General made the case as he accredited the new US envoy to CARICOM, Her Excellency Sarah-Ann Lynch, at the Secretariat’s Headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana on Tuesday. He said the...
30 April 2019 / 2438
Implementation of decisions cannot be a shifting target, CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, cautioned on Monday.He was at the time delivering remarks at the opening of the Forty-Eighth Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development which is underway in Georgetown, Guyana.“Implementation cannot be a shifting target. We cannot come to meeting after meeting and agree to a Plan and not carry forward the work”, the CARICOM Secretary-General told regional...
30 April 2019 / 1939
In welcoming you all to this Forty-Eighth Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), I wish to pay tribute to Sir Alister McIntyre who passed away last weekend.Sir Alister was the second Secretary-General of CARICOM serving from 1974-77. He was also appointed by Heads of Government as the Chief Technical Adviser to the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery which was the forerunner to the current Office of Trade Negotiations. He was also appointed to the West Indian...
30 April 2019 / 2881
Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, CARICOM Secretary-General, delivered remarks at the opening of the Forty-Eighth Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) taking place from 29 to 30 April 2019, in Georgetown. Guyana. Following are some takeaways from the Secretary-General’s remarks:An urgency to complete the agreed measures and make the CSME a lived reality for our citizens, has been the hallmark of the recent discussions...
18 April 2019 / 2498
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat joins the rest of the world in celebrating girls and young women in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on Girls in ICT Day – Thursday, 25 April 2019.International Girls in ICT Day is an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) initiative and is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday of April under the theme ‘Expand Horizons, Change Attitudes’. The objective of the initiative is to empower and encourage girls...
13 April 2019 / 2682
The crime and security situation in the Region demands greater collaboration and co-operation among the Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). This was the view of the 20th Meeting of the Caribbean Community’s Ministerial Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE).Meeting in St. Georges on Friday 12 April, under the chairmanship of Dr the Rt Honourable Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, the Council agreed that increased co-ordination would achieve...
12 April 2019 / 2613
Chair of the 20th Meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Council for Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE), Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr. the Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell, emphasised the necessity for a collective approach to effectively address security in the Region, when he spoke at the opening of the meeting on 12 April in St. Georges, Grenada.“We need each other as our fight against crime is a collective one”, he said. “As small fledgling economies we...
05 April 2019 / 2811
CARICOM has been an indispensable force in the development of the Region, the new envoy of Grenada to the Caribbean Community said Thursday, as he submitted his letter of credence to Ambassador Irwin LaRocque.During a brief ceremony at the CARICOM Secretariat headquarters, Georgetown, Guyana, Ambassador Arley Salimbi Gill assured the Secretary-General LaRocque that Grenada “will remain steadfast to the ideals” of regional integration and support the work of the CARICOM...
02 April 2019 Reference Number: 51/2019 / 2438
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) As part of the approach to fight crime and violence from a social perspective, several persons associated with youth development will benefit from training in five Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) over the next month. The training is aimed at establishing a cadre of trainers to build capacity of youths at risk of, or are already in conflict with the law.The training which will be held in the Member States of...29 March 2019 / 2387
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) A permanent logo is coming soon for CARIFESTA. Members of the Regional Cultural Committee (RCC) were on Thursday presented with possible logo designs to represent the region’s iconic mega cultural Festival. Members of the committee reviewed the designs which have been created by a vendor that was engaged by the CARICOM Secretariat.The group provided feedback which will be...
28 March 2019 / 2908
A delegation from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) led by the Chairman of the Conference of Heads of Government, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, and including the CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, met with the International Contact Group (ICG) on Venezuela in Quito, Ecuador, on 28 March 2019.The discussions took place at the invitation of Frederica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union, and Jose Valencia, Minister of...
27 March 2019 / 3023
On Tuesday, 12 March 2019, the European Union issued a revised list of countries purportedly not adhering to tax good governance which included five (5) Members of the Caribbean Community, Barbados, Belize Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago and Bermuda.Seven (7) other Members of the Community have been placed on a monitoring list having made commitments to undertake reforms by December 2019 and are making efforts in that regard. These are Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, St Kitts and Nevis,...
27 March 2019 / 558
On 5th December 2018, the Commission advised the public that it took note of an announcement on 28th November 2018 by the Bank of Nova Scotia (“Scotiabank”) of an intended sale of banking assets in nine (9) territories in the Caribbean to Republic Financial Holdings Ltd (“Republic Financial”) and life insurance operations in another two (2) territories (Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago) to...
24 March 2019 / 2911
In accordance with the decision of CARICOM Heads of Government to provide good offices in facilitating a peaceful resolution to the Venezuela crisis through a meaningful internal process, a delegation of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Foreign Ministers met with Mr. Guaido and a delegation of his representatives in Bridgetown, Barbados, on 23 March 2019. Mr. Guaidó joined the discussion via videoconference.CARICOM Foreign Ministers acknowledged the meeting as a significant initial step...
22 March 2019 / 3740
CARIFORUM Member Countries on Friday began signing an Agreement with the United Kingdom which will govern their trade after the UK leaves the European Union.Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines were the signatories from CARIFORUM (a grouping of CARICOM Member States and the Dominican Republic). Other Members Countries have signaled their intention to sign in the coming days. ..._cropped__300x195.jpg "Hon. Terrence Deyalsingh, Minister of Health, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago with participants of the Seventh Meeting of National AIDS Programme Managers and Key Partners")
15 March 2019 / 2576
(PANCAP Coordinating Unit, CARICOM Secretariat) The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) commenced the Seventh Meeting of National AIDS Programme (NAP) Managers and Key Partners in Port-of-Spain, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on Monday, 11 March 2019.The meeting was hosted 22 months ahead of the end of 2020 deadline for reaching the UNAIDS 90–90–90 Targets — 90% of people living with HIV diagnosed, 90% of diagnosed people on treatment and 90% of...
12 March 2019 / 2917
Address by the CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque to the International Conference on Building Resilience to Natural Disasters, Bucharest, Romania, 12 March 2019 This forum is extremely timely and in keeping with our thrust in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) as we have embraced building resilience, including to natural disasters, as a matter of priority. The Caribbean along with the Pacific Islands are among the most disaster-prone regions in the world.I...
12 March 2019 / 2662
CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque and Romania's Foreign Minister Mr Teodor Melescanu on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding setting up a Mechanism for advancing cooperation between CARICOM and Romania in a number of areas, including science and technology, education, research, climate change and disaster management, and agriculture.(from left) Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Romanian Foreign Minister Mr Teodor Melescanu and Bahamian Foreign...
10 March 2019 / 2649
In the course of a short visit to Mexico on 7 March 2019, the CARICOM Secretary-General, H. E Irwin Larocque, pursued several areas of priority interest to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). His meeting with the Foreign Minister of Mexico, H.E. Marcelo Ebrard, facilitated a timely exchange of views on the current worrying situation in Venezuela. In this regard, the initial activities of the Montevideo Mechanism put in place by Mexico, Uruguay and CARICOM on 6 February 2019 to facilitate a...08 March 2019 / 2091
The Caribbean Organisation of Tax Administrators (COTA) launched its Sixth Essay Competition for secondary school students on 18 February 2019...(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Organisation of Tax Administrators (COTA) launched its Sixth Essay Competition for secondary school students on 18 February 2019.The Competition topic is ‘Digitalization – Moving Today’s Tax Administration Beyond the Twenty-First...
01 March 2019 / 3371
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is deeply concerned by the recent further escalation of tensions in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the ensuing increase in hardship and suffering of the population exacerbated by the imposition of sanctions.The people of Venezuela must be allowed to decide their own future in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter - non-intervention, non-interference, prohibition of the threat or use of force, respect for the rule of law, human...
27 February 2019 / 3880
Prime Ministers Andrew Holness of Jamaica and Dr Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago signed the CARICOM Multilateral Air Services Agreement (MASA) at the 30th Inter-Sessional Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in St. Kitts/Nevis, Wednesday.Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley of Trinidad and TobagoThe CARICOM Multilateral Air Services Agreement expands the scope for airlines owned by CARICOM nationals to provide air services throughout the Community. It allows for no restriction on routes,...
27 February 2019 Reference Number: 34/2019 / 2709
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque on Tuesday reiterated the call for calm and cessation of violence in Haiti, as he charged that the shadows cast by those issues, could not weaken the Community’s development trajectory.In that context, he said progress in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, regional transportation and security architecture, were paramount in...
27 February 2019 Reference Number: 35/2019 / 2835
(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque on Tuesday 26 February 2019 expressed strong disquiet that the constantly shifting parameters for good tax governance set out by the European Union (EU), are encroaching on the Region’s sovereignty.Addressing the opening of the 30th Intersessional Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government, in Frigate Bay, St. Kitts...
26 February 2019 / 2424
On the margins of the 30th Inter-Sessional Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government, the Chairman, Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris of St Kitts and Nevis on Tuesday witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA).The MOU will aim at strengthening evidence-informed Health Services and Policy decision-making through Training and Research.UWI was represented by Vice Chancellor...
26 February 2019 / 2819
CARICOM Chairman Prime Minister Timothy Harris of St Kitts/Nevis and Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque in conversation with Estonia's President Kersti Kaljulaid at the Inter-Sessional Meeting in St Kitts/Nevis, Tuesday. #CARICOMHeadsMeeting #StKittsNevisThe President is keen to share her country's highly successful experience in e-governance.