By Radha Motielall
In the wake of the successful Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, Guyana is gearing up to host the upcoming Caricom Heads of Government meeting and the IDB annual meeting of Caribbean governors.
These significant events will see the participation of heads and senior officials from various multilateral agencies.
Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud spoke with NCN about the importance of these engagements, emphasizing the proud moment for Guyana as it plays host to the third installment of the energy conference while preparing for the Caricom Heads of Government conference from February 25 to 28.
In the midst of these gatherings, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will convene its 12th annual consultation with the governors of the countries comprising its Caribbean Country Department in Georgetown on February 23 and 24.
These events coincide with Guyana’s national celebrations of its Republic Anniversary and Mashramani festivities.
Persaud highlighted that as the chair of Caricom, Guyana will focus on key areas such as climate, energy, and food security during the Caricom meeting.
He acknowledged that while there may be questions about the relevance of the regional bloc, with political will and follow-up actions, Caricom proves to be tremendously beneficial, albeit a work in progress.
Dr. Carla Barnett, Secretary-General of Caricom, outlined the agenda for the 46th meeting, which includes discussions on the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), free movement, climate change, climate financing, energy, food security, and global and hemispheric issues, with a particular focus on Haiti.
Additionally, several foreign guests, including Brazil’s President Lula DaSilva, ministers from the UK, Canada, and the UAE, along with heads of multilateral agencies such as the IDB and the United Nations, will engage with Caricom Heads and President Ali on bilateral matters.
As Guyana prepares to host these crucial meetings, it underscores the country’s commitment to regional cooperation and collaboration on pressing issues affecting the Caribbean community.