Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerritt will assume the chairmanship of the 45th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government CARICOM to be held in Trinidad and Tobago between Monday (July 3) to Wednesday (July 5).

The meeting will also commemorate the 50th anniversary of CARICOM since its establishment by the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which was signed by Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago and came into effect on August 1, 1973.

In a message ahead of the annual conference, Skerrit noted that as the region marks its 50th-anniversary milestone, it presents the region with an opportunity to “To take stock of our achievements and to access whether we have remained true to the ideals of those who drafted the blueprints of this noble institution.”

Prime Minister Skerrit also called for renewed efforts to protect the livelihoods of Caribbean people and achieve economic resilience and prosperity.

“At 50, we must consider how we increase the productivity of our respective states, increase trade revenues and create sustainable economies, eliminate trade barriers and encourage free trade and facilitate the free movement of skilled citizens across our borders for work,” he said.

Regional leaders are set to discuss issues affecting the region such as climate change, the Caribbean Single Market and Economy, Energy Security, the situation in Haiti, regional transport, food security and among others.

The ceremony will feature speakers such as host Trinidadian Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, Roosevelt Skerrit, and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.