Suriname’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, and Cooperation (BIS), Melvin Bouva, participated in the 16th Special Meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council of Ministers held in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis. Accompanied by a technical delegation from his ministry, Bouva’s engagement underscored Suriname’s commitment to strengthening regional integration and collaborative governance within the Caribbean community.
The meeting commenced with standard procedural formalities, including opening remarks and agenda adoption, before advancing to substantive policy discussions. Key agenda items encompassed the operationalization of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), with particular focus on expanding recognized categories of aviation personnel under the free movement of skills regime. This initiative aims to enhance labor mobility and economic cooperation across member states.
Additional critical topics addressed included reparations, membership and associate membership applications—notably from Bermuda—and a proposed amendment to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas concerning CARICOM Rules of Origin. The development of a common industrial policy for the Community was also deliberated, alongside administrative matters such as the Secretariat’s 2026 work program, budget, and contribution formula.
Suriname’s participation signals its strategic prioritization of a cohesive, economically resilient Caribbean region, reinforcing the nation’s role in shaping collaborative decision-making processes within CARICOM’s governance framework.