GRENADA PM SAYS CARICOM SHOULD BE MORE THAN A “TALK-SHOP”

By Shanieka Smith

Staff Writer

#Grenada, July 15, 2022 – The newly elected Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, who also has no prior political background, warned the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Sunday July 3, saying it should be more than a “talk” shop.

Mitchell told Caribbean leaders that they should do more to foster greater regional unity and socio-economic development.

“This Caribbean Community that we all love has been seen and viewed as a place where we talk, and talk, and talk, and then we talk some more, and to what end Mr Chairman. No Sir, this is a time colleague, my friends, and to all the young people across the Caribbean Community- this is indeed our moment, this is your moment, where it is a Time for Action and a Time of Choosing,” he expressed during his contribution at the 43rd CARICOM Summit.

Mitchell added, “let us, therefore, look towards the future of our region with a renewed hope and commitment as we in the coming days review our performance and chart a new way towards a transformative agenda, and make a collective and conscious decision at this season, at this Time of Choosing-to move all our people, all our citizens, our friends, our loved ones, our sons and daughters, to move all CARICOM – forward.”

The Prime Minister, who came to office in the June 23 general election, said his vision for CARICOM is one “where we must be transformed into an eco-friendly, fair, equitable, dynamic, prosperous and stable democracy, capable of sustaining a high quality of life for all our people.”

Having highlighted some key challenges and limitations in the Caribbean, such as the impacts of climate change, COVID-19, transportation, financing, and food importation, he said, “Grenada is willing, ready and eager” to play its part in transforming CARICOM.