On July 6, 2026, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) gathered for a landmark celebration of its 53rd year of regional integration at a special reception and awards ceremony hosted at London’s DoubleTree by Hilton near the Tower of London. Grenada’s High Commission to the United Kingdom took a leading role in organizing the event alongside all other Caricom diplomatic missions based in the British capital, bringing together a diverse cross-section of attendees from across diplomatic, political, business and community spheres.
The guest list included senior diplomats from across the global diplomatic corps, sitting UK parliamentarians, senior government representatives, leaders from the international business community, members of the large Caribbean diaspora based in the UK, and longstanding allies of the Caribbean region. Together, the group gathered to honor more than five decades of shared cooperation and integration across the Caribbean bloc.
Leading Grenada’s delegation to the event was Her Excellency Rachér Croney, Grenada’s High Commissioner to the UK, who also holds the position of Chair of the Caricom Events Committee. In this capacity, Croney oversaw all coordination and planning for this year’s anniversary celebration. In addition to their participation in the broader program, the Grenada High Commission team staged a dedicated “Pure Grenada” exhibition designed to highlight the island nation’s one-of-a-kind cultural heritage, premium local goods, and untapped investment openings for global partners.
The curated exhibition offered attendees a sensory introduction to Grenada, widely known as the Isle of Spice, featuring samples and displays of award-winning Grenadian chocolate, a range of locally harvested spices, and other artisanal goods produced on the island. Beyond showcasing local culture and products, the exhibit outlined targeted investment opportunities across the nation’s priority growth sectors: sustainable tourism, renewable energy development, agribusiness, the Blue Economy, and the creative industries. The presentation underscored Grenada’s longstanding commitment to inclusive, sustainable economic development and cemented the nation’s reputation as a competitive, welcoming destination for international trade and foreign direct investment.
Addressing attendees during the official program, Croney emphasized that the annual Caricom Day celebration serves a dual purpose: it strengthens bonds of regional solidarity while creating space for individual member states to advance their national development priorities. “Caricom Day is a celebration of our shared Caribbean identity, resilience and collective achievements. It also provides an opportunity to showcase Grenada’s unique strengths and the many opportunities available for partnership, trade and investment. As Small Island Developing States, our greatest strength lies in our unity, our collaboration, and our shared commitment to sustainable development and regional prosperity,” Croney said.
The official ceremony opened with opening remarks from His Excellency Dr Kevin Isaac, High Commissioner for St Kitts and Nevis, who marked the end of his tenure as Chair of the Caricom Caucus of Diplomatic Missions in London. A core ceremonial moment followed the opening address, with the Caricom flag formally passed from Isaac to His Excellency Anthony Severin, High Commissioner for St Lucia, signaling the official handover of the Caucus Chairmanship for the coming term.
Guests also received remarks from The Honourable Chris Elmore MP, UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for Multilateral Affairs, Human Rights, Latin America and the Caribbean. Elmore used his address to reaffirm the strength and enduring importance of the longstanding strategic partnership between the United Kingdom and the Caribbean region. A pre-recorded video message from The Honourable Philip J Pierre, Prime Minister of St Lucia and current Chair of Caricom, was also shared with attendees, outlining the bloc’s ongoing commitments to deepening regional integration, building economic resilience, advancing ambitious climate action, and coordinating collective responses to pressing shared global challenges.
One of the most anticipated highlights of the evening was the presentation of the 2026 Caricom Awards, an annual honor that recognizes exceptional individuals whose work has driven forward Caribbean development and strengthened cross-regional cooperation. This year’s three award recipients reflected the breadth of contributions to the community: Jacqueline Roberts of St Vincent and the Grenadines received the Advocacy for Small States Award, Bertha Joseph of Dominica took home the Community Development Award, and Dr Les Johnson of Jamaica was honored with the Culture and Education Award.
The formal program drew to a close with a ceremonial toast to Caricom, delivered by High Commissioner Croney. The toast celebrated 53 years of the bloc’s collective achievements and reaffirmed the core values of unity, cooperation, resilience, and shared purpose that continue to shape the Caribbean Community’s mission.
As Caricom works to amplify its collective voice on the global stage, Grenada has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating closely with fellow member states to advance shared regional priorities. These priorities include building climate resilience, driving inclusive sustainable economic growth, strengthening global food and nutrition security, advancing digital transformation across the region, expanding youth empowerment initiatives, and opening new opportunities for cross-regional and international trade and investment.
Following the handover ceremony, the Grenada High Commission issued a formal statement congratulating Severin on his assumption of the Caricom Caucus Chairmanship, and extended sincere gratitude to Dr Kevin Isaac for his dedicated leadership and distinguished service during his tenure. The statement closed by reaffirming Grenada’s ongoing commitment to advancing its national interests, strengthening cross-regional cooperation within Caricom, and deepening the longstanding, enduring partnership between the Caribbean bloc and the United Kingdom.