CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett has reaffirmed that the Caribbean Community remains convinced its advancement must be driven by collective action, even as the region faces mounting pressures that threaten hard-won progress. According to Antigua News Room, Dr. Barnett delivered the message to mark the 53rd Anniversary of the Signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
In her address, Dr. Barnett described CARICOM as "a strong expression of collective determination to shape our own destiny," pointing to active collaboration and mutual support as the forces that have strengthened economic partnerships and amplified the region's voice on issues of global importance.
The Secretary-General highlighted progress across several critical areas, including regional security, emergency response, climate action, public health, and educational outcomes. She noted that CARICOM's decision-making bodies, the Secretariat, and its specialised institutions have been working alongside national bodies to establish the frameworks and initiatives necessary to promote growth and sustainable development.
"CARICOM's strength has always been rooted in shared purpose and the determination of our people to transcend the limitations of small size and limited resources," Dr. Barnett said, adding that CARICOM nationals continue to distinguish themselves in many fields both at home and abroad.
Despite these achievements, Dr. Barnett acknowledged significant challenges facing the region. Consecutive years of record-breaking climatic events, including hurricanes, have devastated key sectors such as agriculture and tourism. The region also continues to navigate an increasingly uncertain global environment marked by shifting economic realities and disruptions to international business.
Looking ahead, she outlined several priorities the Community remains committed to pursuing collectively, including expanding intra-regional trade, increasing employment, reducing the food import bill, reducing crime and violence, and adapting the built environment for climate resilience. Dr. Barnett also stressed the importance of improving digital connectivity and transportation networks to facilitate the movement of people and goods across the Community.
"We remain ever mindful of the current and future needs of our young people, who deserve a Region that is prosperous, technologically advanced, and full of opportunity," she said.
CARICOM was established on July 4, 1973, with the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which was revised in 2001 to allow for the establishment of a single market and economy. The Community comprises fifteen Member States and six Associate Members, and is home to approximately sixteen million citizens, sixty percent of whom are under the age of 30. Its work rests on four main pillars: economic integration, foreign policy coordination, human and social development, and security cooperation. The CARICOM Secretariat is headquartered in Georgetown, Guyana.
