Canadian Prime Minister to meet with CARICOM Heads of Government in Barbados

Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, will travel to Bridgetown, Barbados to participate in the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to build even stronger ties with the region.The Conference will be held 17-18 February 2020.

The announcement was made Tuesday 11 February via a press release from the Prime Minister’s office.

The Caribbean region and Caribbean states are important political,
economic and cultural partners of Canada, and the visit will serve as an
opportunity to further strengthen its partnership with this regional
grouping of 20 Caribbean member states and Associate Members, and nearly
20 million people, the release said.

It added that the Prime
Minister will discuss challenges of mutual interest, including
protecting oceans and the environment in the fight against climate
change – in a region that is particularly vulnerable to its impacts, as
well as creating good jobs for the middle class and sustainable economic
growth.

According to the press release, Prime Minister Trudeau will
participate in group discussions and bilateral meetings with CARICOM
leaders. He will be received by the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia
Mottley – the current Chair of CARICOM and host of this meeting.

As Canada pursues its candidacy for election to the United Nations
Security Council in 2021-2022, we will continue to advance shared
interests to benefit people and businesses in Canada, the Caribbean, and
around the world.

“Canada and Caribbean countries have always had
strong relationships and almost one million people of Caribbean descent
live in Canada. These relationships are based on shared values and
partnerships in the fight against climate change, the promotion of
democracy, trade, economic growth, and security. I look forward to
meeting the leaders of CARICOM to discuss how we can work together to
strengthen the Caribbean, and build a better world,” the Prime Minister
said.

·         Over two million Canadians travel to CARICOM countries annually.

·         Canada
has long-standing ties with many CARICOM countries on a wide range of
issues, including trade, security and defence, and governance.

·         CARICOM
is comprised of 15 Member States and five Associate Members. The Member
States are Antigua & Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,
Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St.
Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, and
Trinidad & Tobago. The overseas territories of Anguilla, Bermuda,
the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, and Turks & Caicos
Islands are Associate Members.

·         The
Conference of the Heads of Government meets twice a year at Regular and
Inter-Sessional meetings to provide CARICOM its policy direction.

·         In
2017, Prime Minister Trudeau announced Canada’s $100 million Pledge for
Caribbean Reconstruction and Climate Resilience to support regional and
country-specific activities that address all the stages of the disaster
management cycle. Pledge initiatives enhance disaster risk management
systems, promoting climate change adaptation and mitigation, and
supporting climate-resilient reconstruction.

·         At
the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting in 2018,
Prime Minister Trudeau announced $20 million for technical assistance in
support of public financial management for Small Island Developing
States including in the Caribbean.