Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders are gathering in Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis for the bloc’s historic 50th regular summit, marking a pivotal moment for regional diplomacy. The high-level assembly will confront an ambitious agenda featuring critical discussions on economic integration, regional security challenges, and strategic international partnerships.
The summit’s provisional agenda, released by the CARICOM Secretariat, highlights several transformative initiatives. Delegates will deliberate on expanding the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) by incorporating aviation personnel into the list of skilled professionals granted free movement rights. Proposed amendments to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas will also be examined, particularly concerning rules of origin that determine duty-free eligibility for regional products.
International diplomacy takes center stage with scheduled high-profile engagements. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Dr. George Elombi, President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), will participate in strategic dialogues. The recently established CARICOM-Afreximbank office in Barbados signals deepening economic cooperation between the regions.
Regional security concerns will be addressed behind closed doors, with particular focus on Haiti’s escalating crisis and transnational crime. The meeting will receive crucial updates from the High-Level Representative on Law and Criminal Justice while analyzing geopolitical shifts in international relations.
Border disputes feature prominently on the agenda, including Belize’s ongoing tensions with Guatemala and Honduras, plus Guyana’s territorial confrontation with Venezuela. The summit will also consider Bermuda’s application for associate membership status within the bloc.
Additional key discussions encompass CARICOM’s budgetary allocations and governance structures, progress on indigenizing the University of the West Indies, and implementation updates regarding freedom of movement between Barbados and three member states. The agenda further addresses regional transportation, industrial policy development, WTO trade negotiations, climate finance mechanisms, and food security initiatives through enhanced agri-food systems.
The summit will finalize CARICOM’s participation in forthcoming international gatherings, including joint summits with Cuba, the Tenth Summit of the Americas, and the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled for November in Antigua and Barbuda.