THE highly-anticipated Forty-Sixth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), formally opens today at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown, Guyana.

With Guyana assuming chairmanship of CARICOM, President, Dr Irfaan Ali, has already set the table for talks to be held on a range of topics, which are aimed at bettering the Caribbean region. The conference is slated to run from the 25-28 February, 2024.

The conference will discuss climate change and climate financing; regional security, including the situation in Haiti and border issues; regional transportation; financial matters, including replenishment of the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF); global and hemispheric issues including developments in the Middle East; Reparations; and the 2024 ICC Men’s T-20 Cricket World Cup, according to CARICOM’s website.

The conference is being convened under the chairmanship of Dr Ali, who will deliver the feature address at the opening ceremony; Dr. Carla Barnett, CARICOM Secretary-General and the outgoing chairman of CARICOM and Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit will also address the gathering.

During President Ali’s New Year message, he underscored how important it is for the region to unite and address the obstacles that are attempting to detract development.

For instance, as it relates to regional security, he said: “We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to return our Member State, Haiti, to peace and stability. Our Region must remain a Zone of Peace.”
Furthermore, CARICOM Member States have made advancements towards achieving the ‘25 per cent by 2025’ target, which is aimed to reduce the region’s food import bill.

The CARICOM Chairman, as lead Head of Government with responsibility for Agriculture and Food and Nutrition Security in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet, will update the meeting on the Community’s 25 by 2025 initiative.

The business sessions of the four-day Meeting will be held at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown. Heads of Government will hold discussions with the meeting’s special guest, Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as well as with other high-level guests.

Discussions during the business sessions will include the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and an update on the implementation of the free movement of all CARICOM nationals by 31 March 2024, as mandated at the 45th Regular Meeting in July last year.