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Caribbean leaders concluded a historic gathering in Basseterre this week after four days of high-level discussions aimed at strengthening regional security, accelerating integration, and deepening international partnerships during the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Held from February 24–27 under the theme “Beyond Words: Action Today for a Thriving, Sustainable CARICOM,” the milestone summit marked five decades of regular consultations among the region’s leaders, and highlighted renewed urgency in addressing crime, economic resilience, climate change, and geopolitical instability.
Hosted under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew, the meeting brought together heads of government, senior officials, and international partners at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and the Marriott Dome in Frigate Bay. Attendance was notably high, with 95 per cent of CARICOM leaders present, underscoring the significance of the anniversary summit.
In his opening address, Dr Drew urged regional leaders to move beyond declarations and deliver concrete results for their citizens.
“History, I say to us this evening, will not measure us by our communiqués, but by our courage,” he said.
He warned that instability in neighbouring states, particularly Cuba, could have far-reaching implications for the Caribbean.
“A destabilised Cuba destabilises all of us,” Dr Drew said, noting the country’s large population relative to CARICOM’s combined size. “If a state within our community is so destabilised, it will affect all of us in the region.”
He emphasised that CARICOM must serve as a conduit for dialogue and coordinated action to safeguard humanitarian interests and regional stability.
SECURITY AND CRIME DOMINATE THE AGENDA
Crime and regional security emerged as dominant themes, with leaders highlighting the growing threat posed by transnational criminal networks, illegal arms trafficking, and narcotics smuggling.
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar emphasized the severity of the security situation in her country, linking high murder rates to organised crime and drug trafficking.
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar“So again, I repeat… who vex lost. But we gained. We gained from the military help, and I will welcome them again,” she said, referring to cooperation with the United States military.
She credited international assistance with helping to reduce violence, noting that her country’s murder toll declined significantly following strengthened security measures.
Persad-Bissessar also reaffirmed Trinidad and Tobago’s commitment to CARICOM while calling for respect for national sovereignty and political independence among member states.
“We respect the sovereign right of CARICOM members, with respect to your choice for national security for your nation, and respect to your choice for foreign policy…and we expect no less from others,” she said.
At the same time, she voiced concern about democratic conditions in Cuba and the ongoing humanitarian and security crisis in Haiti, where armed gangs continue to destabilise the country.
“In Haiti, democracy continues to be under threat,” she said, expressing support for international efforts to restore order.
CALL TO ACCELERATE REGIONAL INTEGRATION
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Godwin Friday, attending his first CARICOM summit as head of government, called for faster progress in achieving regional unity and integration.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Godwin Friday“It seems to me that any serious consideration of the subject of regional integration begins with the familiar lament about the agonisingly slow pace of forward movement,” he said.
Despite past frustrations and disagreements, he stressed that CARICOM remains essential to the region’s survival and prosperity.
“We remain ever hopeful that it will become more able to address our needs… fundamentally because we all recognise the inescapable fact that we must have CARICOM or something like it,” Friday said.
He warned that the global environment is becoming increasingly uncertain, making regional cooperation more critical than ever.
“If we do not continue to strive together and pool our limited power and resources, we cannot hope to withstand the increasing political and economic headwinds,” he added.
Friday urged leaders to strengthen public engagement and ensure citizens understand the value of CARICOM’s work.
“What we do here must not only be about them, it must also be with them, for that is where our strength truly lies — in the people,” he said.
A DEFINING MOMENT FOR CARICOM
The golden anniversary gathering has been widely viewed as a defining moment for CARICOM, offering an opportunity to reaffirm the region’s unity and chart a course forward amid an increasingly complex global environment.
With rising security threats, economic uncertainty, and geopolitical shifts affecting the Caribbean, leaders emphasized that deeper cooperation and decisive action will be essential to securing a stable and prosperous future for the region.
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