According to Barnett, the Conference of Heads of Government’s decisive leadership advanced many of the Region’s key priorities.

   “Food and Nutrition Security was boosted through the 25 by 2025 initiative; there were efforts to improve Air and Maritime Transportation in the Region and advance implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), and initiatives to stem the worrying issue of Crime and Violence.”

   “We continued to take advantage of regional and international fora opportunities to advocate for decisive climate action by the international Community to keep temperatures to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. We also called for urgent attention to honor commitments to provide climate financing. The Bridgetown Initiative and implementation of the multilaterally agreed Multidimensional Vulnerability Index remains critical to ensuring that CARICOM Small Island and Low-lying Coastal Developing States (SIDS) receive the resources needed to increase and sustain resilience.”

   The secretary-general said CARICOM leaders and the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) also expended great effort throughout the year towards resuming functional governance and security in Haiti by ensuring Haitian-led and Haitian-owned solutions to the ongoing crises. Regrettably, the growing insecurity caused by gang violence remains a serious threat to the aspirations and hopes of the people of Haiti, as many thousands of persons continue to be displaced and are victims of violence and food insecurity.

   “In July, the record-breaking Hurricane Beryl severely impacted agriculture, fisheries, communications, and transportation in several countries of the Region. However, in the true spirit of Community, our Member States and Regional Institutions rallied to support each other.”

   The regional body also signed the CARICOM-African Union Memorandum of Understanding in the latter half of the year to promote strengthening economic, cultural, political, and fraternal relationships between CARICOM and Africa. The increased trade, investment, and tourism opportunities between CARICOM and Africa will also bolster this.

   “We acknowledge the strong participation of our Member States, International Development Partners, the Private Sector, Labour organizations, the Diaspora, and Civil Society in initiatives to strengthen the pillars of our integration movement. In this regard, for their sterling contribution to the Region, two Community stalwarts, Sir Clive Lloyd and the Honourable Roderick Rainford, were awarded the Order of the Caribbean Community, the Region’s highest honor, at the 47th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government.”

   Barnett said that as the Region seeks to consolidate integration in the year ahead, CARICOM looks forward to continued collaboration with stakeholders and partners, including the CARICOM Committee of Ambassadors and CARICOM Youth Ambassadors, and the guidance of the Bureau of the Conference, which will comprise Barbados, Grenada, and Jamaica effective 1 January 2025.

   “My sincere thanks to all the staff of the Secretariat at our Georgetown Headquarters and our offices in Barbados and Jamaica for their unswerving dedication to the work of the Community. I wish all peace, success, prosperity in 2025, and safety during the Season’s festivities.”