Saudi Arabia, UAE Among Global Partners Joining CARICOM Summit in Saint Lucia

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia — The 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) officially opened on Sunday, July 5, with Caribbean leaders joined by influential international partners including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Afreximbank and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Hosted by Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, who assumed the rotating CARICOM Chairmanship on July 1, the Opening Ceremony at Sandals Grande St. Lucian brought together Heads of Government from The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and host Saint Lucia.

Associate Members also participated in the opening, including the Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and Martinique, which is attending as CARICOM’s newest Associate Member. Anguilla was represented by Premier Cora Richardson-Hodge, the territory’s first woman premier, underscoring the growing role of women in Caribbean leadership.

Among the distinguished international guests were His Excellency Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Dr. George Elombi, President and Chairman of Afreximbank; and Shirley Botchwey, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.

Their participation reflects increasing international interest in the Caribbean as governments pursue partnerships in climate finance, trade, food security, investment, regional security and sustainable development.

The Opening Ceremony featured remarks from Prime Minister Pierre, outgoing CARICOM Chairman Terrance Drew and CARICOM Secretary-General Carla Barnett. Business sessions continue through July 8, with leaders expected to deliberate on climate resilience, the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, reparations, regional security, food and nutrition security, Community enlargement and foreign relations.

As deliberations begin, the presence of global powers alongside a full complement of Caribbean leadership reinforces CARICOM’s expanding influence—not only as the region’s principal integration movement, but increasingly as a respected voice on the international stage.