The Hon. Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada and Immediate Past Chairman of CARICOM, on Wednesday emphasised the need for partnership to tackle climate change.
The Prime Minister, whose country was among CARICOM Member States that were devastated by Category 4 Hurricane Beryl last year, addressed the matter of climate change at the opening ceremony of the 48th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in Bridgetown, Barbados. In his remarks, he praised the Region’s unity and support that provided the resilience the people of Grenada needed to rebound from the disaster.
“We are not asking for mercy. In fact, we are not asking for sympathy. We are asking for partnership. And make no mistake about it: we have one planet … We are simply asking for partnership in tackling the challenges of climate change and in protecting and sustaining the lives, the livelihoods, and the cultures of the people who are most prone to the devastating impacts of climate change,” he said.
Partnerships, collaboration, and multilateralism to combat climate change were recurring themes of the remarks at the opening ceremony of the Meeting which is being held under the theme ‘Strength in Unity: Forging Caribbean Resilience, Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development.’
Dr. Carla Barnett, CARICOM Secretary-General warned that the current global scenario dictates that the Region cannot effectively address challenges “in splendid isolation.”
“In our Region, which accounts for less than one percent of the global population, we know that if we are to decisively counter and surmount the combined effects of adverse developments, we must redouble collective efforts, pool our combined wisdom, and act on the basis of our fundamental, intrinsic principles.
“Collective action, based on those principles, guided our Member States to be among the first to offer assistance and support to those impacted by the record-breaking Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. Regional commitment, strength and resilience were clearly visible by Grenada, as they hosted the 47th Meeting of the Conference within weeks after Hurricane Beryl caused catastrophic damage, not only to Carriacou and Petit Martinique in Grenada, but also to the Grenadines Islands of St. Vincent and several other Member States, as it trekked across the Caribbean,” the Secretary-General said.
Special guest of the meeting, His Excellency Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, also devoted time in his remarks to climate change. He characterised its impact on the Region as a “deplorable injustice“ and underscored the need for the Community to act in unison.
Making the case for greater partnership, special guest, Her Excellency Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission called for joined forces with “reliable partners” to solve the more pressing global problems.
She hailed the Caribbean Community as the “strongest and most respected voices” in the fight against climate change and to protect nature.”
