“I have an even higher regard for the spirit of community that underpins our integration movement.” Outgoing CARICOM Chairman, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has described his chairmanship of CARICOM as a success, noting that the Community had made significant progress across various fronts in the past year.

The Dominican leader assumed the rotating chairmanship of CARICOM in July, 2023 during celebrations to mark the grouping’s 50th anniversary in Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago.

“2023 has been a year etched in our memories, not just for the global challenges we faced, but for the unwavering spirit and collective action that defines CARICOM. Time and time again we rose to the occasion,” Mr. Skerrit told the opening ceremony of the 46th regular summit of CARICOM leaders in Georgetown, Guyana on Sunday.

The outgoing Chairman said the region has taken concrete steps towards self-sufficiency through the continued implementation of the Community Agricultural Policy (CAP), fostering innovation and collaboration among  farmers.

He said measures included budgetary allocations to agriculture in member states, introduction of new crops, improved cross-border investments and collaborations, development and implementation of new agriculture trade policies and guidelines; and identification and agreement on possible insurance products to benefit farmers in the Region.

“It means that we remain on course to meet our 25 by 2025 Food Security Initiative targets, with the most critical one being to reduce our food import bill and advance food and nutrition security for the Community.

“With the signing of a Double Taxation Agreement easing trade and investment within the community, we fortified our economic resilience and almost immediately saw positive signs of recovery in our respective tourism sectors, a vital pillar of our economies,” he noted.

Prime Minister Skerrit said he was looking forward to the Small island Developing States (SIDS) Conference to be held  in Antigua and Barbuda in May “where we can continue to highlight CARICOM’s unique needs and concerns, and advance collective action”.

“As a collective, our continued calls toward raising climate change awareness reverberated on the global stage. We advocated for ambitious climate action, championing the Caribbean Climate Action Plan which will safeguard our future from the devastating effects of climate change,” he said.

He also highlighted CARICOM’s engagement with international partners and the crucial support secured for the region’s development priorities. He singled out the first CARICOM-Saudi Arabia Summit held in Riyadh in November last year when Saudi Arabia pledged investment in the region’s infrastructure, renewable energy, tourism, and agriculture sectors.

The Dominican Leader said he was proud of the role played by CARICOM in the border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela. In December 2023, Prime Minister Skerrit joined his Vincentian counterpart; Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves to facilitate a meeting between Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali and Venezuelan leader, Nicolas Maduro.

“It was our shared belief in collaboration that guided us to remain peaceful during a period when other regions in the world crumbled and resorted to unrest. Every family faces friction. But strong families navigate disagreements with respect and understanding. They prioritize open communication, active listening, and compromise, remembering the love and shared values that bind them.

“We made the international news, not for unrest, war or violence, but for our hosting of mature, proactive deliberations that created a template that others in the world would do well to follow,” Prime Minister Skerrit said.

The outgoing Chair pledged his “unstinting support and cooperation” for CARICOM chairman President Ali.

“At the end of my Chairmanship, I have an even higher regard for the spirit of Community that underpins our integration movement,”

“I have full faith that the Caribbean spirit of unity and determination will continue to guide us. We have the talent, the resources, and the collective will to overcome any obstacle. So let us continue to work together, hand in hand, to build a brighter future for our beloved Caribbean, a future where every country thrives, and every voice is heard,” he concluded.