(CARICOM Secretary-General, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) - Dr Carla Barnett, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General, has commended Dominica’s leadership in regional integration, as the Community navigates the goal of free movement within CARICOM.

This was highlighted during the virtual accreditation of His Excellency Gerard Jean-Jacques as Dominica’s new Ambassador to CARICOM.

“Dominica's leadership in regional integration, especially in advancing the movement of people through the work of the Prime Minister of Dominica in his Quasi-Cabinet responsibility for Labour (including intra-Community Movement of Skills), has benefited the Region, raising expectation that at long last the aspiration for Free Movement across the Region can come to pass,” the Secretary-General stated.

CARICOM SG delivering remarks at the virtual accreditation ceremony

She also referenced Dr. Jean-Jacques’ appointment to the CARICOM Committee of Ambassadors, stating,

“Today marks your appointment to the CARICOM Committee of Ambassadors, which provides strategic advice, recommendations, and support to the Community Council of Ministers. Members of the Committee of Ambassadors have a key role in implementing Community decisions at the national level. Implementation by and in Member States is the crucial step which ensures that Community decisions have a positive impact on the citizens of the Community.”

Underscoring the importance of this role in strengthening the CARICOM identity, the Secretary-General added,

“When Members of the CARICOM Committee of Ambassadors engage with citizens to promote the objectives, programmes and benefits of CARICOM, there is greater knowledge of the important link between regional and national interests, which is essential to fostering a strong sense of Community and strengthening the CARICOM identity.”

Dr. Jean-Jacques expressed Dominica’s commitment to collaborating with CARICOM on issues like climate change, renewable energy, food security, housing, education, health, cost of living, and sustainable finance.

“One common denominator in addressing all these issues is the fast-changing geopolitical configurations. They create real challenges to our ability to achieve our common development goals and secure prosperity and wellbeing for our people. Yet, this reality creates new opportunities for CARICOM,” the new Dominican envoy stated. He added,

“We must now strategise to reconfigure our networks, intra-CARICOM and extra-CARICOM, so that we develop new and sustained avenues of resources and political support. This in no way suggests that we abandon our traditional friends, but instead, as Dominica has shown, CARICOM member states must quickly embrace opportunities that exist among ourselves and create new partnerships with States and entities that share our goals and values. Let us consider such a strategy as part of a first step towards our sustainability and the political consolidation of the Community.”

The CARICOM Secretary-General also recently accredited His Excellency Ruslan Rzayev, new Ambassador of Azerbaijan to CARICOM.

New envoy of Azerbaijan to CARICOM displaying his Letters of Credence during the virtual accreditation ceremony

During an interaction following the virtual accreditation, they discussed advancing CARICOM-Azerbaijan cooperation in climate resilience, economic development, and education.

Dr Barnett expressed the Community’s appreciation to Azerbaijan for its financial support to Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines following the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl’s in those Member States, mid-2024.