For Caribbean Community Secretary General Carla Barnett, 2025 presented some major challenges for the 15-member grouping, including the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa and rising geopolitical tensions in the Southern Caribbean.
In a brief review of activities in the region this year, Barnett noted that there were commendable examples of resilience over the past 12 months, including recovery efforts following Superstorm Melissa, which devastated large parts of western and northern Jamaica and also affected parts of Haiti.
“Hurricane Melissa left death and destruction in its wake in Jamaica and in Haiti. Recovery will take considerable resources and time,” she said as Jamaica struggles to recover from the storm, which at times had wind just in excess of 200 miles per hour.
She also swiped at threats of apparent military action against Venezuela by the US, noting that in addition, there were “unprecedented geopolitical headwinds that threatened export earnings, regional peace, and sovereignty. Amid these and other challenges, we pulled together urgently to help address critical needs in the aftermath of the devastating hurricanes, and pivoted creatively to safeguard businesses and livelihoods.”
Playing up the positives, however, Belizean Barnett singled out some of the major ones, including the decision by Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and St Vincent and the Grenadines to approve full and free travel movement among CARICOM nationals as the region slowly moves to implement a regional single market and economy system. This move, she argued, has paved the way for greater economic activity and community exchange.
“The framework for a comprehensive CARICOM industrial policy and strategy is also well advanced, laying the foundation for stronger and more integrated productive capacity, innovation, and economic diversification. In agriculture, the continued implementation of the 25 by 2025+ strategy has yielded growth in production, although hurricanes and other climate-related events have caused significant setbacks for farmers and agricultural communities.
She also hailed the successful staging of Carifesta XV in Barbados in August, saying the major umbrella cultural exposition of the bloc provided for exposure for “the rich talent of our artisans and artistes” as they “filled us with pride as we celebrated our diverse and vibrant culture.
Additionally, the head of the Guyana-based regional secretariat highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence, noting that the region will “continue to explore the implications of artificial intelligence business and strive to expand physical and digital connectivity to drive economic progress.”
She said the region will continue in the new year to focus on key issues including reparations, foreign policy coordination, security, governance, human development issues and climate change from this year’s meeting of the conference of heads of government, including those held in Barbados in February, and in Jamaica in July, are clear indications of the strategic focus and commitment to action.”
