STATEMENT: Tenth Special Emergency Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), via Video Conference, 5 May 2020

Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), met virtually on 5 May 2020, specifically to continue their efforts to harmonise their responses to and policies on the multifaceted impact of COVID-19.

Heads of Government welcomed a
presentation from a Regional Working Group which indicated that the pandemic
was largely contained in the Region due to the decisive action by Governments
to put restrictions in place. They also noted the emphasis by the Group that
re-opening by the Member States must be done with the health consideration
being the foremost criterion.

The Group, including representation from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the University of the West Indies (UWI), and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), offered recommendations for a common public health policy.

The recommendations included
parameters for the easing of restrictions in Member States that would allow for
a re-opening in phases. The recommendations also included suggested criteria
for a protocol on the re-opening of airports for intra-regional travel. The
draft policy will be resubmitted to Heads of Government for final approval.

Heads of Government recognised
the need to pool their efforts at procurement of medical devices and supplies
in the context of COVID-19 in order to more easily gain access to supplies and
achieve economies of scale. This system would utilise the existing structures
of the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the Organisation of Eastern
Caribbean States (OECS) Pharmaceutical Procurement Service (PPS).

The Heads of Government also
endorsed the regional COVID-19 Agri-Food Security Action Plan to strengthen the
Region’s food security in the face of the threat posed by the pandemic.  The Plan was developed by agriculture
stakeholders, including the private sector.

The need for a common protocol
for the re-opening of regional airports to flights from selected third
countries and the re-opening of hotels was also discussed. In that regard,
Heads of Government established a sub-committee led by the Honourable Allen
Chastanet, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, to have discussions with stakeholders
in the tourism industry, including the hoteliers, airlines, cruise operators
and the labour unions to settle the appropriate protocols needed to ensure
safety for workers and visitors upon re-opening of the sector.  This would be informed by the regional public
health policy.

Heads of Government stressed
their determination to speak to the cruise and airline industries with one
voice.

Heads of Government agreed to
meet in the coming weeks to discuss the financial and economic challenges
related to the impact of the pandemic.

7 May 2020