Holness urges Caribbean leaders to stay focused on values that unite region

Jul 08, 2025 News

Newly appointed Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Chair, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness

Kaieteur News – New Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness, has urged his regional counterparts to think strategically and remain focused on the values and interests that unite the Caribbean.

Holness was addressing the opening plenary session of the 49th Regional Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government, in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

“We are vulnerable not just to the global economic shocks and natural hazards, but to being marginalised in a world where power and influence often outweigh genuine need. And that is why we must think strategically, act collaboratively and remain focus on the values and interests that unite us.”

The Jamaican head-of-state continued “…Many of the threats which we face which as small countries we grapple with and often times as leaders as we contemplate these challenges and we look at our size relative to the rest of the world.”

“It can be daunting and sometimes, we may have the expectation that exceptions will be made for us that our case will be treated with difference and differential favour. But I think that as we enter upon the new order which seems to be emerging in the world that we must be strategic. We must strengthen our institutions.”

He said, “we must take responsibility for our own destiny because that is the only way we are going to only really get it if we really want it. It means we must focus on people because human development must be the center of the integration mission. It must be the center of the development mission.”

He lauded the co-operative efforts among member states to meet challenges in the face of global issues.

“It has been a period of geopolitical and socio-economic uncertainty, but we have been able to work even more closely to ensure that our movement remains vigilant and united in its response to the challenges that confront us as a region,” he told the gathering.

The prime minister nonetheless called for more focus to be placed on ensuring food security, access to decent work, climate protection, and opportunities youth that make up 60 per cent of the regional population.

“We must focus on people. We must also focus on partnerships because global progress is built on networks of trust. We must ensure that the developmental aspirations of member states are advanced in a way that enhances the prospect for a secure and sustainable future,” Dr. Holness added.

He stressed the need for stronger ties within CARICOM and strategic global partners in Africa, North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and the Middle East.

“In the new dispensation which is emerging, it is clear that the world is not unipolar and that there are opportunities that we must explore. There are gains which we have left on the table unexplored and as a community, we must strengthen south co-operation. We must strengthen our trade cooperation with Africa and we must strengthen our internal cooperation.

He emphasised that the resources in CARICOM are sufficient to provide for the needs of the people.

“We have Guyana with energy and land; Suriname with energy and land and Trinidad, Jamaica with incredible human resources.”

“What has stopped us for these many years? We have been saying we really want to get it. Did we really want it? I think that the emerging global situation must now push us to really get it. We can get it because the time to get the prosperity for our people is now. But that prosperity must be inclusive. It can’t be for some. It has to be for everyone in this region, including our brothers and sisters in Haiti,” Dr. Holness stated.

Meanwhile, outgoing chair, Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Motley called on leaders to embark on efforts that are sustainable and resilient.

“Sustainability and resilience are the two new buzzwords now that every government must focus on. And so it is that the policies that we will pursue in CARICOM, whatever it is, whether it is the institutional structures that we will have to re-examine, the trade policies that we will have to pursue, the security policies that we will have to pursue, they must be pursued through the prism, through the lens of sustainability and resilience.”

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Caribbean, Caribbean leaders, CARICOM, CARICOM Heads of Government, Dr. Andrew Holness

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