A new chapter in Saint Lucia’s engagement with regional Caribbean cooperation has begun, as Dr. Janet Caroo, the country’s newly appointed Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), has completed her official accreditation to the intergovernmental regional grouping.
The formal accreditation ceremony took place last Friday at the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters located in Georgetown, Guyana, where CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett officially extended a warm welcome to Caroo in her new role.
Caroo was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to both CARICOM and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) on September 1, 2026. Her expanded portfolio covers a broad range of critical regional mandates, from advancing cross-border cooperation, labor mobility, trade and investment, to fostering innovation and strengthening personal and institutional ties across Caribbean communities.
In her first public address following accreditation, Caroo emphasized that she assumes her post at a pivotal moment that demands unwavering long-term commitment, deeper collaborative action among member states, and most importantly, accelerated delivery of tangible results that improve lives across the region. “I come to CARICOM with a deeply felt conviction: regional integration must be measured by the opportunities it creates and the difference it makes in people’s lives,” she stated.
Caroo went on to lay out four clear core priorities that will guide her tenure. First, she will work to expand accessible opportunities for free movement, accessible education, cross-regional skills development, and inclusive employment across all CARICOM member states. Second, she aims to build stronger, more resilient trade connections to open new markets for Saint Lucian goods producers and service exporters. Third, she will prioritize deepening institutional, digital, and people-to-people connections between Saint Lucia and other CARICOM members. Fourth, she plans to actively showcase the rich culture, creative industries, indigenous talent, and innovative ideas from Saint Lucia across the entire Caribbean region.
Speaking during the ceremony, Secretary-General Barnett noted that Caroo’s appointment coincides with a significant milestone for Saint Lucia: the country currently holds the rotating Chair of CARICOM, under the leadership of Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre. Barnett added that Prime Minister Pierre’s administration has centered its regional leadership on a core goal: ensuring the regional integration process delivers clear, tangible benefits to all people across the CARICOM community.
Barnett also drew attention to Caroo’s prior experience as Head of Saint Lucia’s Regional Integration Unit, framing her new ambassadorship as a critical linchpin for the country’s ongoing deep engagement with the regional integration movement. “Saint Lucia has long been an active member of CARICOM and consistently demonstrated its commitment to regional integration and collective action,” Barnett affirmed.