Premier Reuben T. Meade to Address CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Barbados

Montserrat’s leader of government business, new Premier, the Honourable Reuben T. Meade, has been invited to address the opening of the upcoming 48th Regular meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Barbados.

The Meeting’s Opening Ceremony will take place on the afternoon of Wednesday 19 February at the Lord Erskine Sandiford Centre, Bridgetown.

CARICOM Chairman, prime minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados; outgoing Chairman, Prime minister Dickon Mitchell of Grenada, and CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr Carla Barnett are also scheduled to deliver addresses at the opening.

Special Guest, the President of the European Commission, H.E. Ms. Ursula von der Leyen and Secretary-General of the United Nations, H.E. Mr. António Guterres will also address the Ceremony.

CARICOM Heads will convene February 19 through 21 under the theme “Strength in unity:Forging Caribbean resilience, Inclusive Growth and Sustainable development.

Premier Meade and the other Heads of Government will discuss several pressing issues for the Community, including food and nutrition security; climate change and the climate finance agenda; the ongoing challenges in Haiti; security issues; digital resilience; external relations matters and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Other issues such as maritime and air transport, and reparations will also occupy the attention of the leaders over the two-day period.

Prime Minister Mottley, the new Chair, set the tone for CARICOM’s focus over the next six months in her New Year’s message when she highlighted the need for the Community to resume the full implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, conscious that it “is not merely an economic agenda, but a vision of unity and opportunity for small states to achieve greater economic resilience”.

Central to the focus on the CSME is the full realization of the free movement of CARICOM nationals, which, according to Prime Minister Mottley “is essential for unlocking the true potential of the people and economies of the Community”.

The business sessions of the Meeting, 20-21 February, will be held at the Wyndham Grand Barbados – Sam Lords Castle in St Philip.

The opening ceremony will be streamed live on CARICOM's social media platforms.

Additional updates will be provided via subsequent advisories.