United Kingdom (Commonwealth Union)_ The ongoing Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Port-of-Spain, taking place from 3 to 5 July 2023, is graced by the presence of the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, who is participating as a distinguished guest. This year holds special significance as it marks the golden jubilee of the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas in Trinidad and Tobago in 1973, which paved the way for the establishment of the Caribbean Community. The conference will also serve as the official launch for CARICOM’s 50th-anniversary celebrations.
Expressing her thoughts ahead of her visit, the Commonwealth Secretary-General lauded the accomplishments of the organization, stating that CARICOM united half a century ago with the purpose of fostering the connections, well-being, prosperity, and security of Caribbean nations and their people. According to her, these objectives were visionary then, and now, even after fifty years, they hold even greater significance. She further added that the Commonwealth’s relations with CARICOM have flourished over the past five decades, and today, the collaboration encompasses a broad spectrum of initiatives that are more extensive than ever before.
During her time in Trinidad and Tobago, the Secretary-General will interact with Caribbean leaders, seeking their insights and cooperating on strategies to provide more customized and practical support to the region. She will also apprise the leaders of the preparations underway for the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) scheduled to be held in Samoa from 21 October 2024. Accordingly, as 12 out of the 15 CARICOM member states are also members of the Commonwealth, the Secretary-General underscored the significance of strengthening the partnership between the two organizations.
Further, the Secretary-General will highlight the targeted support provided by the Secretariat to the region, especially through the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub. Notably, as of June 2023, this hub has played a pivotal role in securing more than US $52 million in climate finance for Caribbean countries that are members of the Commonwealth. During the conference, Secretary-General Scotland will also highlight the sustained commitment of the Commonwealth to advocating for the concerns and interests of small states on the global stage, with a specific focus on immediate climate action and advocating for a new international financing system that meets the needs of small and vulnerable states. Of particular concern is the significant disparity between the ambitious pledges for climate finance and the limited funds actually disbursed to assist developing nations in combating climate change.
According to Secretary-General Scotland, “We cannot stand by as small and vulnerable states drown in rising seas and suffocate under crushing debt. Small states, least responsible for climate change, suffer a double injustice – enduring the devastating aftermath of disasters and grappling with exorbitant borrowing costs for recovery.” She further lauded the resilience of the Caribbean region, stating, “For decades, when it has been faced with the worst, Caribbean leaders have shown their best. They have led the world on the issues of the day, and they have shown their true power as a united voice for those who are in need.”
Highlighting the recent announcements made at the Paris Climate Finance Summit as “Important steps in a much longer journey,” the Secretary-General added that due to advocacy efforts from the Commonwealth and the Caribbean, led by the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Hon Mia Mottley, and with the assistance of other regional leaders, reforms to multilateral lending practices are now being seriously considered. She remarked that there is a ray of hope that these reforms will be revised to align with the realities of the climate crisis and its disproportionate impact on vulnerable states. Additionally, the CARICOM conference is being organized under the leadership of Hon Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica, the birthplace of the Commonwealth Secretary-General. Following the conclusion of the CARICOM conference, the Secretary-General will begin her official visit to The Bahamas to participate in the country’s 50th anniversary of independence commemoration.
