PM Friday Urges CARICOM to Further Engage the People of the Region

By S.Browne. Updated 11:51 a.m., Thursday, February 26, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Addressing the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis on February 24, 2026, Prime Minister Dr Godwin Friday challenged leaders to improve public engagement in the affairs of the Caribbean Community.

Dr Godwin Friday noted that St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), like other CARICOM countries, have often fallen short in engaging the wider population, and he suggested that addressing this could reinvigorate efforts to strengthen CARICOM and accelerate regional progress.

He reflected on the long and sometimes turbulent history of Caribbean integration, from early federation efforts to the formation of CARICOM, noting that despite disagreements and setbacks, the regional movement has endured out of necessity.

The Prime Minister stressed that enhancing public engagement across the region is essential to boosting the credibility and relevance of CARICOM within member states.

“What we do here and in other forums must not only be about them, but also with them, for that is where our strength truly lies,” Dr Friday said, urging leaders to better align regional decisions with the everyday realities of Caribbean citizens.

He acknowledged that doubts sometimes arise about the pace and direction of integration but insisted that such doubts should focus only on how to move forward, never on whether to do so.

Dr Friday highlighted several pressing priorities facing the region, including eliminating poverty and creating prosperity, removing obstacles to commerce such as currency-related barriers, closing workforce skills gaps to support employment, confronting climate change, securing resilience financing, and promoting peace and security in Haiti and the wider Caribbean.

The Prime Minister called on fellow leaders to accelerate the integration process, noting that while the road ahead may be challenging, it remains both viable and necessary.

“Please let us quicken the pace. The road ahead may be arduous and full of obstacles, but it is a viable path, made even more certain when we decide to walk together. When we hold our neighbour’s hand now, we make the journey easier and safer for those who follow,” Dr Friday said.

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This information was sourced from a press release sent to us by the Agency for Public Information.