CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr. Carla Barnett, has hailed the "remarkable progress" Antigua and Barbuda has made over the 41 years of its independence.

CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr. Carla Barnett on Monday 5 September delivered the Second Distinguished Owen Arthur Memorial Lecture in Bridgetown, Barbados. The lecture was delivered under the theme 'The Future of CARICOM; Charting a Vision for the Region's Economic Advancement'.

It was organised by the the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, Shridath Ramphal Centre, and the Caribbean Development Bank.

Please read the lecture below:

The First CARICOM-Africa Summit held on 7 September 2021, opened a new chapter in the deep-rooted and strong relations between CARICOM and Africa.  It set in motion various initiatives to further deepen and strengthen relations between the African continent and the Community.  In particular, the Leaders underscored the need to foster increased trade, investment, air travel, and maritime shipping links, with a view to realising greater economic integration and enhanced people-to-people contact between Africa and the Caribbean.

Antigua and Barbuda has reported a 7% increase in tourist arrivals in July as the country continues to record a “steady rebound” in visitor arrivals in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that had forced the closure of borders.

The Ministry of Tourism said during July, Antigua and Barbuda welcomed 24,673 visitors, an increase of 23,405 from the corresponding period last year and the 2019 record of 23,031.

• Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago:
  The Honourable Doctor Keith Rowley,
• Prime Minister of Barbados:
  The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley,
• President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana:

His Excellency Mohamed Irfaan Ali,