NASSAU, Bahamas – AS the world grapples with increasing uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, there are growing calls for Caribbean nations to strengthen regional cooperation and unity.
Speaking during the closing ceremony of the 56th Annual Meeting of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in The Bahamas, Belize's Minister of State for Foreign Trade in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr. Osmond Martinez, stressed the importance of collective action in navigating the challenges facing the region.
"We must deepen, not dilute, our regional solidarity. Our strength has never rested on the size of our individual states," Martinez told delegates.
He emphasized that the Caribbean's greatest asset lies in its ability to work together.
Martinez cautioned that the challenges confronting the region require solutions tailored to Caribbean realities, stressing that today's challenges demand Caribbean solutions which are rooted in the region's own realities.
With Belize set to assume the chairmanship of the CDB's Board of Governors and host the Bank's 2027 Annual Meeting, Martinez said his country is preparing to take on the role with "a distinct sense of purpose and possibility."
"Our country occupies a unique space in our region—geographically part of Central America, historically and culturally rooted in the Caribbean, and deeply committed to the shared prosperity of both," he explained.
According to Martinez, that position has shaped Belize's development approach and reinforced the understanding that resilience cannot be built in isolation.
"It is built through connection and integration. We have created tangible networks for collaboration, trade, innovation, climate action, and economic growth," he noted.
He said Belize intends to use its chairmanship to strengthen ties within the Caribbean while fostering greater cooperation with its Central American neighbours.
"Under our chairmanship, we intend to position Belize as a constructive gateway to harness opportunities to for deepen cooperation across our Caribbean family and with our Central American neighbours, translating geographic proximity into shared regional benefit."
Martinez also pointed to the increasingly interconnected nature of global and regional challenges, arguing that the Caribbean's response must be equally coordinated. He said Belize's approach will be guided by the CDB's Strategic Plan 2026-2035, which focuses on strengthening social, economic, and environmental resilience across the region.
Particular emphasis, he noted, will be placed on the blue, green, and orange economies—areas where Belize and the wider Caribbean have significant growth potential.
"We place particular emphasis on... sectors where our region holds immense on top value and where Belize has been actively building experiences and momentuam," Martinez said, citing initiatives such as Belize's Blue Bond, expanded support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), youth entrepreneurship programmes, sustainable tourism, cultural industries, conservation efforts, and climate resilience projects.
He described these sectors as more than emerging markets, saying they represent opportunities for Caribbean people—particularly young people—to play a meaningful role in shaping the region's future.
Looking ahead to 2027, Martinez said Belize's chairmanship will focus on fostering renewed partnerships, encouraging regional investment, supporting youth-led innovation, and advancing solutions that showcase the Caribbean's strengths.
He added that Belize hopes the 2027 Annual Meeting will reflect the spirit of collaboration and resilience demonstrated throughout this year's gathering.
