BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - WITH most territories across the region regaining control of the outbreak of COVID-19, the road to recovery and climate change are two of several areas of focus for regional governments during the Thirty-Third Inter-Sessional Meeting of Heads of Government.
This year’s meeting is being held in San Pedro, Belize and it is coming at a critical juncture when the region is at the crossroad in its post-COVID recovery.
Just recently, the President of the Caribbean Development Bank, Hyginus 'Gene' Leon, urged member states to look beyond the usual economic pillars and find new avenues in order to rebuild their fledgling economies.
Most territories are dependent on tourism, and that has been one of the hardest hit sectors as worldwide travel was brought to a halt due to the closure of borders and other restrictions implemented to curb the spread of the virus.
Meanwhile, regional leaders will also discuss advancing the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), which is being regarded as the region’s most practical option for responding to current economic challenges, and building a more resilient Caribbean Community.
The ongoing violence and instability in Haiti, situation in Member State Haiti, regional security situation including any new challenges from the period of the pandemic; CARICOM’s Agri-Food systems agenda with recommendations for regional food and nutrition security; engagements with representatives of the Private Sector, Labour and Civil Society are other areas of focus.
This will be the first in-person CARICOM Heads of Government Inter-Sessional Meeting for the Secretary-General and new Deputy-Secretary General Dr. Armstrong Alexis who took up their positions last August and November respectively. Two new Assistant Secretaries-General – Ambassador Donna Forde, who heads the Foreign and Community Relations Directorate, and Ambassador Wayne McCook who heads the Single Market and External Trade Directorate, are also attending their first Heads of Government Meeting, CARICOM reported in a media statement.
At the end of the Inter-Sessional Meeting, CARICOM Heads of Government will join their Central American counterparts for the Fourth CARICOM-SICA summit on 3 March, also on San Pedro, Belize.
