Roseau, Dominica: Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica, arrived in Trinidad earlier Sunday ahead of the 45th Regular Conference of Heads of CARICOM.
Yesterday, he went straight to work as he participated in a briefing led by CARICOM Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett, preparing for the July 3-5 conference.
During the conference, the Prime Minister of Dominica will chair the three-day meeting with a focus on trade negotiations, regional security, agriculture and food security, climate change and climate finance and the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.
PM Roosevelt Skerrit will assume the Chairmanship of the CARICOM Community during the 45th Regular Conference. It will take place today and will continue till July 5, 2023.
On June 30, 2023, he congratulated fellow CARICOM leaders as the alliance will soon mark its 50th anniversary on August 1, 2023. While addressing, Minister Skerrit pledged to develop the CARICOM community by launching skill development programmes, resilience, health facilities, local travel and education in six months.
Explaining the primary objective behind creating this community, he noted that the signature aims to create a common space for territories to work towards economic integration and sustain prosperity.
Minister Skerrit further remarked that this 50th anniversary provides an opportunity to highlight the achievements and discover whether the member countries stayed focused on the ideology of this global institution.
During the conference, the Prime Minister of Commonwealth of Dominica will briefly discuss eliminating environmental and climate challenges faced by the CARICOM states, economic uncertainties, crimes and other significant concerns.
He said, “It is crucial to renew our efforts to protect the livelihoods of our people to achieve economic resilience and prosperity. At the conference, we must consider how we increase the productivity of our respective states, increase state revenues and create a sustainable economy”.
Minister Skerrit is set to address the pressing matter of reducing criminal activity and preventing youth involvement in such actions. He expressed that 11 million youth living in CARICOM states relies on this summit.
To eliminate crime, the collective contribution of all CARICOM states is necessary to save young individuals, residents and societies from its harmful effects. That’s why he urged the other members of CARICOM to accelerate youth development programmes and pay great attention to education systems.