Foreign Policy
The 48th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting is a meeting of great interest
Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Foreign and Community Relations with the CARICOM Secretariat, Ms. Elizabeth Solomon, has described the upcoming 48th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government as a “meeting of great interest.”
Speaking ahead of the engagement, which is set for February 19-21 in Bridgetown, Barbados, Ms. Solomon noted that the meeting comes at a focal time for the hemisphere and will be an opportune moment to discuss CARICOM’s approach to various matters.
Themed “Strength in Unity: Forging Caribbean Resilience, Inclusive Growth, and Sustainable Development,” the Meeting will address matters on the regional agenda including food and nutrition security, climate change and finance, the ongoing challenges in Haiti, security issues, digital resilience, external relations, and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. Maritime and air transport, as well as reparations, will also be discussed over the two days.
Ms. Solomon underscored the importance of regional unity, stating, “It is important for the Region to unite and speak with one voice on many issues, and this is an excellent opportunity under Prime Minister Mottley’s leadership, who began her tenure as Chair of CARICOM at the start of 2025,” she stated.
The opening ceremony will be held on the afternoon of February 19 at the Lord Erskine Sandiford Centre in Bridgetown, featuring speeches from Prime Minister Mottley, outgoing Chairman Hon. Dickon Mitchell of Grenada, the new Premier of Montserrat Hon. Reuben T. Mead, and CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr. Carla Barnett.
Heads of Government are expected to engage with several distinguished guests, including UN Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. António Guterres; European Commission President, H.E. Ms. Ursula von der Leyen; Commonwealth Secretary-General, Baroness Patricia Scotland; President of the Caribbean Development Bank, Mr. Daniel Best; President of Afreximbank, H.E. Professor Benedict Oramah; and Executive President of the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) Mr. Sergio Díaz-Granados. A special meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) will precede the Conference on February 19. ASG Solomon described this meeting as “very important,” noting that CARICOM Foreign Ministers play a key role in advising the Heads of Government on foreign policy matters.
About CARICOM’s Foreign Policy
Foreign policy coordination is one of the four main pillars of the Caribbean Community, as specified in Article 6 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. CARICOM’s regional, bilateral and multilateral relations are based on principles of democracy, the rule of law, multilateralism, and international cooperation. CARICOM’s foreign policy agenda was established in 1972 at the Seventh Standing Committee of the Commonwealth Caribbean Heads of Government, which led to the creation of a Standing Committee of Ministers to tackle shared foreign policy concerns. The committee’s first meeting took place in Georgetown, Guyana, in November 1973, where the Committee was renamed the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR).
Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Foreign and Community Relations with the CARICOM Secretariat, Ms. Elizabeth Solomon, has described the upcoming 48th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government as a “meeting of great interest.”
Speaking ahead of the engagement, which is set for February 19-21 in Bridgetown, Barbados, Ms. Solomon noted that the meeting comes at a focal time for the hemisphere and will be an opportune moment to discuss CARICOM’s approach to various matters.
Themed “Strength in Unity: Forging Caribbean Resilience, Inclusive Growth, and Sustainable Development,” the Meeting will address matters on the regional agenda including food and nutrition security, climate change and finance, the ongoing challenges in Haiti, security issues, digital resilience, external relations, and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. Maritime and air transport, as well as reparations, will also be discussed over the two days.
Ms. Solomon underscored the importance of regional unity, stating, “It is important for the Region to unite and speak with one voice on many issues, and this is an excellent opportunity under Prime Minister Mottley’s leadership, who began her tenure as Chair of CARICOM at the start of 2025,” she stated.
The opening ceremony will be held on the afternoon of February 19 at the Lord Erskine Sandiford Centre in Bridgetown, featuring speeches from Prime Minister Mottley, outgoing Chairman Hon. Dickon Mitchell of Grenada, the new Premier of Montserrat Hon. Reuben T. Mead, and CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr. Carla Barnett.
Heads of Government are expected to engage with several distinguished guests, including UN Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. António Guterres; European Commission President, H.E. Ms. Ursula von der Leyen; Commonwealth Secretary-General, Baroness Patricia Scotland; President of the Caribbean Development Bank, Mr. Daniel Best; President of Afreximbank, H.E. Professor Benedict Oramah; and Executive President of the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) Mr. Sergio Díaz-Granados. A special meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) will precede the Conference on February 19. ASG Solomon described this meeting as “very important,” noting that CARICOM Foreign Ministers play a key role in advising the Heads of Government on foreign policy matters.
About CARICOM’s Foreign Policy
Foreign policy coordination is one of the four main pillars of the Caribbean Community, as specified in Article 6 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. CARICOM’s regional, bilateral and multilateral relations are based on principles of democracy, the rule of law, multilateralism, and international cooperation. CARICOM’s foreign policy agenda was established in 1972 at the Seventh Standing Committee of the Commonwealth Caribbean Heads of Government, which led to the creation of a Standing Committee of Ministers to tackle shared foreign policy concerns. The committee’s first meeting took place in Georgetown, Guyana, in November 1973, where the Committee was renamed the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR).
A handshake of goodwill between CARICOM and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) during a recent engagement between CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General, Ms Elizabeth Solomon (L); and a team from JICA led by Mr. Kota Sakaguchi (R), Chief Representative of JICA’s Dominican Republic Office.
In the margins of 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, CARICOM and the African Union signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation and collaboration. The MoU was signed by the CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr Carla Barnett (L), and the Deputy Chairperson (DCP) of the African Union (AU) Commission, H.E. Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa (R), on behalf of the African Union
CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr Carla Barnett (R) greets Minister for International Development of Canada, Hon. Ahmed Hussen during his engagements with CARICOM Heads of Government in the margins of the 47th Conference of Heads of Government.
