(Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) – In a stirring address to the opening of the 50th Regular Meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government on Tuesday, 24 February, President of the Republic of Suriname, Her Excellency Dr. Jennifer Geerlings‑Simons, underscored that the Region’s enduring resilience has always rested on cooperation and collaboration rather than fragmentation.
“Across our history, from federation efforts and conflicts to economic crisis to natural disasters, our Region has consistently chosen for close cooperation and collaboration over fragmentation,” she stated.
“That commitment is the foundation on which we must now build our future,” she added, urging the Community to deepen regional cooperation and accelerate action on youth development, economic diversification, energy security, and climate justice.
Emphasising the urgent need to prepare young people for a rapidly changing world shaped by technological disruption and global shifts, she said:
“Our responsibility therefore is not merely to educate, but to equip to ensure that young people possess the skills, adaptability, digital literacy and entrepreneurial mindset necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape.”
Strengthening regional economies through diversification, value‑added production, and innovation across sectors must remain a key priority for the Community, she said, noting that these efforts are essential to withstand global shocks and create sustainable economic opportunities for Caribbean people.
She underscored the importance of shared regional strategies in food security, services, infrastructure, and digital connectivity, highlighting the need to “reinforce Caribbean self-reliance.”
Highlighting Suriname’s expanding oil and gas sector, President Geerlings‑Simons reiterated that the country views its energy resources as a catalyst for sustainable development, not an end in themselves.
“Our emerging oil and gas sector presents significant potential not as a goal in itself but as a catalyst for broader long-term national and regional development,” she stated, adding that prudent development of the energy sector can “strengthen regional energy security, support industrial transformation and create tangible opportunities for our citizens.”
Listen to the full address of President of the Republic of Suriname, Her Excellency Dr. Jennifer Geerlings‑Simons, to the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government.
