I am pleased to welcome my colleagues from throughout the Caribbean to the 44th Heads of Government Meeting, which will be held at the Baha Mar Resort in The Bahamas from the 15th to the 17th of February.
This gathering of Caribbean leaders will focus on the region’s most pressing issues with the objective of promoting increased collaboration and developing meaningful policy solutions.
The agenda will feature a discussion of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other emerging health issues and the strain being placed on regional health systems.
Our discussion of national security and migration issues will include specific consideration of the crisis in Haiti.
Climate change and financing will be a central focus. The Bridgetown Initiative and its role in generating funding to assist developing nations as they adapt to climate change will serve as the launch pad for our discussions.
We will also address the need for greater regional food and energy security.
CARICOM welcomes the opportunity to engage with the President of the Africa Export–Import Bank, the President of the Development Bank of Latin America, the Director General of the World Trade Organization, the Prime Minister of Canada, and the President of Ukraine, who will deliver a video message. These leaders will provide valuable insights that will support our solutions-focused discussions.
The Government of The Bahamas is proud to play a pivotal role in hosting and organizing this monumental meeting. Through this gathering of minds, we have an opportunity for the region’s leaders to unite for the benefit of the entire Caribbean.
We look forward to the outcome of these discussions as we work toward a brighter future for the Caribbean, built on a foundation of solidarity and partnership.