(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen Greater Georgetown, Guyana) - As His Excellency Dennis Francis concludes his year-long term as President of the 78th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett welcomed him for a courtesy call at the CARICOM Headquarters on Friday, August 9, 2024.

Sea level rise, climate change, and the situation in Haiti were among the topics covered in the conversation between Dr. Barnett and Ambassador Dennis, who is also the Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the UN.

They also discussed the Summit of the Future, which will take place at the UN headquarters in New York from September 22–23, 2024, with the goal to enhance cooperation on critical challenges and to address gaps in global governance.

Ambassador Francis said the Summit will provide a forum for the international community to address the challenges to sustainable development and refocus on achieving the UN SDGs.

To ensure that vulnerable nations have the necessary resources for adaptation, he underscored the need for increased access to climate financing and enhanced cooperation with developed countries.

In discussing the developments in Haiti, Dr. Barnett and Ambassador Francis agreed on the need for continued global focus to support a Haitian-led solution for long-term stability.

The Secretary-General commended Ambassador Francis for his efforts to raise awareness of climate change challenges and their consequences for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) during his term as President of the United Nations General Assembly.