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JAM | Feb 15, 2023

Holness departs the island for CARICOM summit in Bahamas

/ Our Today

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Prime Minister Andrew Holness. (File Photo: REUTERS/David ‘Dee’ Delgado)

Prime Minister Andrew Holness departed the island today (February 15) to participate in the 44th meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Nassau, Bahamas. 

Holness will participate in several bilateral discussions on the margins of CARICOM, including with John Kerry, U.S special presidential envoy for climate, Professor Benedict Oramah, the director-general of the World Trade Organization and the president and chair of the US Exim Bank.

Holness is set to return to the island on Friday (February 17). During his absence, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Horace Chang will oversee the Government. 

The three-day meeting was set to kickstart today and run until Friday.

The Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) Georgetown headquarters in Guyana. (Photo: CARICOM.org)

Among the many topics on the agenda for discussion at this year’s conference are food security, climate change, climate finance, health and security among others.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is also set to travel to The Bahamas today to participate as a special guest at the conference and will take part in group discussions and bilateral meetings with CARICOM leaders.

Trudeau will work to strengthen Canada’s partnership with countries in the Caribbean region, including by advancing democracy, human rights, economic growth that benefits everyone, and developing clean energy.

CARICOM is comprised of 15 Full Members and five Associate Members. The Full Members are Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Lucia, St Kitts & Nevis, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago.

The overseas territories of Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, The Cayman Islands, and the Turks & Caicos Islands are Associate Members.

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Caribbean leaders summit CARICOM CARICOM bilateral discussions Justin Trudeau Prime Minister Andrew Holness departs the island for CARICOM summit The 44th meeting of the conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community

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