Two major themes, “unity” and “resilience,” have been recognized by Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley, the incoming Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as necessary preconditions to propel the organization toward a future influenced by current events like the COVID-19 epidemic and climate change.
In the January 1st announcement, Mottley stated, “Today, we stand at the crossroads of immense challenges and extraordinary opportunities. How we act, united as a people, and as nations will define not only this year, 2025, but the legacy of our generation. The Caribbean is far more than a geographic space. We know it. It is a living testament to the power of courage, creativity, and our collective strength.”
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The Bajan Prime Minister continued, “Ours is a history marked by resilience, a word that we will have to embrace more and more in our future. Time and again we have faced storms most natural and manmade and risen stronger, more determined than ever, united in shaping our destiny; especially in this year as we saw the ravages of Hurricane Beryl make history not just for the history books, but regrettably, in the lives of too many families across our region… “
Barbados’ prime minister was adamant that the reinstatement of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) was crucial to the region’s objective of fostering prosperity and togetherness. According to CSME Mottley, “is not merely an economic agenda,” but “a vision of unity and opportunity for small states who know that we can achieve so much more together than we do so individually. Full realization of the CSME, including above all else, yes, the free movement of our nationals is essential for unlocking the true potential of our people and our economies. So is the necessity for us to attain and go beyond the target that we set ourselves for food and nutritional security, best exemplified by the `Vision 25 by 2025’ agenda, which we set in 2021.”
CARICOM’s sustainable development efforts are hampered by unfair blacklisting practices and limited access to concessional financing, according to the incoming Chair, who named the global financial system as the root cause of the marginalization of Small Island and Low-lying Developing States. Mottley said CARICOM will, “persist in advocating for reforms championed in the Bridgetown Initiative and working with others, like the 73 vulnerable countries in the Climate Vulnerable Forum as we fight for a better financial landscape regionally and globally, within which we can build resilience, prosperity and yes, equity – fairness – for all our people.”
The Prime Minister identified the availability and accessibility of resources and called for the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) to be adopted and refined like a laser in order to protect vital resources for the future of the area as, “we face these crises that are often beyond our control to avoid, but for which we must strengthen our resilience to survive. In so doing… we must urgently settle a floor of rights as a community for our people so that we agree on what must be the minimum protection and the opportunities that each and every Caribbean person must benefit from while we instill as well in all of us the need for each to live our daily lives to do better by our family, our communities, our country, and yes, our region. Our home will only be as good in this region as we collectively make it.”
Building on the regional symposium in Port of Spain that acknowledged crime and violence as a public health concern in the Caribbean, the Barbados prime minister urged the regional organization to fulfill the promises of the recently ended George-Bridge Declaration. This statement, which was made in Georgetown, Guyana, under Barbados’ chairmanship, emphasizes the importance of citizen security and safety by treating it as a public health issue and by advancing and bolstering regional and national efforts in law enforcement and the modernization of CARICOM’s criminal justice systems. Mottley explained, “This is absolutely critical for the majority of our people who simply want to ensure that the zone of peace that we aspire to as a region for the Caribbean is a lived reality in each of our communities. We look forward to the meeting in Saint Kitts and Nevis this year, which will add to the meetings in Trinidad and Guyana on this most critical of issues that affect every Caribbean person.”
Mottley praised the announcement of the second decade for those of African origin, which got underway on January 1, 2025, but emphasized that “so much remains to be done in this area.”
According to the PM, the successes of PODs are a testament to the region’s unwavering advocacy and the progress made in the first ten years, which included the creation of the United Nations Permanent Forum for PODs and the international recognition of the ten-point plan for reparatory justice, “We must continue to press the international community for a mature, face-to-face conversation at all levels, so that we may see them repair the damage from the exploitation through the immoral institutions of slavery and colonialism which our people suffered from… urge the international community to provide resources necessary to improve the dignity, security and material conditions of African descended people worldwide.”
Mottley claimed that 600 million Africans lack access to power in an era of artificial intelligence, which “is in no way morally acceptable to us as a community, which is part of the African diaspora that is a sixth region of Africa.”
Mottley cautioned that the Caribbean must not fall behind as the globe rushes toward a digital future and urged the area to take advantage of the “boundless opportunities.” Adding, “From green energy to artificial intelligence, we must lead with alacrity as innovators, not blindly but responsibly equipping our young people with the tools to drive change and to position our region as a hub for sustainable industries.”
Considering the area’s shifting demographics, the prime minister of Barbados stated, “… when we consider that we equally face the challenge of many developed countries, that is, an aging and declining population. It is for that reason that our young people, therefore, must be given every opportunity to ensure that when they age, there are those who are young enough to help them mature in their gray and silver years.”
The creative sector in the area was named the region’s greatest asset by the newly appointed CARICOM Chair, “from the arts to technology… let us celebrate all that is good and is possible for our Caribbean civilization, as we do what we do best in the expression of our Festival of Arts CARIFESTA”.
In response to the unity concept, Mottley said, “In our unity lies our strength. This must be our truth and our rallying cry. Whether tackling the climate crisis, addressing gun violence, or championing equitable global financial reforms, we must act with one voice and one purpose. To our Caribbean people, let us put aside what divides us and focus on what binds us together. I call on us to stay engaged. I say hold us, yes, as leaders accountable. But remember, building this region we love is not only about the governments and its work. It is the responsibility of each and every one of us as Caribbean people, as Caribbean institutions. So, my friends, let us contribute our energy and our talents to this cause that matters most to us. This must not, however, be our cry alone, but it must be the actions of our generation of Caribbean people. We know better. We can do better. Together we can build a Caribbean that is resilient, prosperous, healthy and united. A beacon of hope in a world yearning for solutions. And we do so in our own, indomitable style with a smile on our face and a pep in our step.”
