CARICOM Secretary-General's remarks | Tenth Anniversary of the International Day of Yoga | 21 June 2025

CARICOM Secretary-General Dr Carla Barnett delivered remarks at an event to celebrate the Tenth Anniversary of the International Day of Yoga, held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in Georgetown, Guyana on Saturday, 21 June.

The Secretary-General indicated that the practice of yoga is expanding in many countries, including CARICOM Member States, partly due to a growing recognition of the health and wellness advantages associated with disciplines such as yoga.

Full Remarks:

• Honourable Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Health of Guyana;

• His Excellency Amit Telang, High Commissioner of India;

• Representatives of International Organisations;

• Distinguished Guests;

• Members of the Media;

• Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am pleased to join you this morning as together with millions around the world, we mark the Anniversary of the International Day of Yoga.

I thank High Commissioner Telang for the invitation to partner in this commemoration. It is a tangible expression of the commitments given by Prime Minister Modi in relation to yoga and healthy living during the CARICOM-India Summit, held here in Guyana on 20 November 2024.  We recall that it was Prime Minister Modi who, in his address during the opening session of the UN General Assembly in 2014, first proposed the designation of an International Day of Yoga, noting that “Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action ... a holistic approach [that] is valuable to our health and our well-being". On 11 December that same year the General Assembly passed by acclaim the resolution    establishing 21 June as the International Day of Yoga .

Excellencies,  

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The practice of yoga is growing in many countries, including CARICOM Member States, partly due to a growing recognition of the health and wellness benefits associated with disciplines such as yoga.

CARICOM Governments place strong emphasis on health and wellness, and its role in national development. CARICOM also supports regional health initiatives, such as “Caribbean Moves”, which was launched in 2022 by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to help to address non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by promoting physical activity, healthy eating and supportive environments.

We have our CARICOM Road Race, held annually at the July Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, which brings professional and amateur athletes together to run and walk to promote the value of exercise and healthy lifestyles. The 18^th Edition of the Race will be held in Jamaica next month.

Closer home, at the Secretariat, we have been promoting healthy living and our staff have organised a vibrant Health and Wellness calendar of activities which promotes holistic health - fresh food markets, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture of Guyana; seminars facilitated by medical experts in the Region; and exercise sessions, such as walking and dancing. These all support our push to provide an environment centred on physical, emotional and mental well-being.

Health and wellness are not optional or tangential to other areas of our lives. We believe that they are the foundation for resilience, creativity and success. In our modern fast-paced environment, finding balance through activities like yoga is beneficial and increasingly crucial.

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen, let us all seek to advance our shared goal of healthy, resilient and thriving communities.

Thank you.

-Photo courtesy High Commission of India in Georgetown, Guyana