NATIONAL MEDIA LAUNCH OF THE 51ST REGULAR MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF GOVERNMENT OF CARICOM

Today marks an important milestone for Saint Lucia and an important moment for the Caribbean Community as we officially launch the Fifty-First Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, which Saint Lucia will host from 5 to July 8, 2026, with the Opening Ceremony on Sunday, July 5.

This meeting carries special significance for our country.

Saint Lucia will formally assume the Chairmanship of CARICOM on July 1, 2026, when I will succeed the current Chairman, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Saint Lucia will serve as Chair of the Community for a six-month period, from July 1 to December 31, 2026.

This orderly rotation of leadership reflects one of the enduring strengths of our Community: shared responsibility, continuity and the collective commitment of Member States to advance the regional agenda in service of the Caribbean people.

As Incoming Chairman, Saint Lucia recognises the significance of this moment. We prepare to assume this responsibility at a time when the Caribbean, and indeed the wider world, is navigating profound and complex change.

Our theme for this meeting, “CARICOM: From Resilience to Renewal in a Changing World,” captures both the reality of our circumstances and the ambition of our response.

The Caribbean people have always been resilient. Our history tells a story of endurance, of societies that emerged from colonialism, overcame economic vulnerability and built independent nations guided by hope, determination and unity.

But resilience alone is no longer enough.

The task before us now is renewal.

Renewal of our economies. Renewal of regional cooperation. Renewal of our institutions. Renewal of opportunity for our people. And renewal of confidence in our collective ability to shape our own future.

CARICOM was founded on the belief that our small states could achieve far more together than we could ever accomplish alone. That principle remains as relevant today as it was at the birth of our Community.

That spirit of cooperation continues to find expression through the work of CARICOM’s institutions and agencies, which support Member States in areas such as public health, education, disaster preparedness, climate resilience, security cooperation and sustainable development. Their work demonstrates the practical value of regional integration and the benefits of collective action.

During Saint Lucia’s Chairmanship, our focus will be guided by a simple but urgent principle: CARICOM must deliver results that our people can see and feel in their everyday lives.

Regional integration must not be something discussed only in conference rooms or reflected solely in communiqués. It must translate into meaningful improvements in the lives of Caribbean people.

Over the next six months, Saint Lucia will work with our regional partners to strengthen Caribbean unity, advance climate resilience and climate justice, improve regional security, deepen economic cooperation, expand food and nutrition security, and create greater opportunities for our people.

On Monday, July 6, Heads of Government or their representatives will participate in the Heads Retreat, an important opportunity for frank discussion, reflection, and consensus-building among regional leaders. This year’s programme for the Conference has been intentionally designed to create space for leaders to engage directly with one another, exchange perspectives on key regional issues, and strengthen collaboration, reflecting both the business of regional governance and the spirit of Caribbean unity.

Formal business sessions of the Conference will take place on Tuesday, 7 July, and Wednesday, 8 July, during which Heads of Government will deliberate on matters critical to the future of our Community and advance decisions aimed at strengthening regional integration and improving the lives of Caribbean people

Before I conclude, I wish to acknowledge the leadership of the current Chairman of CARICOM, Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and to express my gratitude for his service to the Community during his tenure.

Hosting the Conference is both an honour and a responsibility. It is also an opportunity for Saint Lucia to showcase our country, our people and our unwavering commitment to regional integration.

We look forward to welcoming the Caribbean to Saint Lucia in July and to working together to move our Community from resilience to renewal.