2023 has been a landmark year for the Caribbean Community, according to the body’s Secretary General Dr. Carla N. Barnett.
In her end of year message, Dr. Barnett notes the celebration of CARICOM’s 50th anniversary of the signing of the original Treaty of Chaguaramas this year allowed the regional body to reflect on its accomplishments and recommit to the vision of the institution’s founders.
She says this year, commendable progress was made on the 25% by 2025 initiative to reduce the region’s Food Import Bill, thereby taking CARICOM a step closer to achieving regional food security.
Dr. Barnett adds with one voice, the Caribbean Community has supported the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, most recently in the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy, and points to the body’s continued advocacy for international support to help Haiti toward peace and stability as well as its strident united support for the war on guns which is negatively impacting security across the region.