February 23, 2024
The Forty-Sixth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will formally open at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown, Guyana, on Sunday, 25 February 2024.
The Meeting is being convened under the Chairmanship of His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana, who will deliver the feature address at the Opening Ceremony. Dr. Carla Barnett, CARICOM Secretary-General, and the Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Outgoing Chairman of CARICOM and Prime Minister of Dominica, will also address the gathering.
The business sessions of the four-day Meeting will be held at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, also in Georgetown. Heads of Government will hold discussions with the Meeting’s Special Guest, His Excellency Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, as well as with other high-level Guests.
Discussions during the business sessions will include the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and an update on the implementation of the free movement of all Community Nationals by 31 March 2024, as mandated at the 45th Regular Meeting in July last year.
The CARICOM Chairman, as lead Head of Government with responsibility for Agriculture and Food and Nutrition Security in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet, will update the meeting on the Community’s 25 by 2025 initiative to tackle the Region’s rising food import bill and improve intra-regional trade.
The Meeting will discuss climate change and climate financing; regional security, including the situation in Haiti and border issues; regional transportation; financial matters, including replenishment of the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF); global and hemispheric issues including developments in the Middle East; Reparations; and the 2024 ICC Men’s T-20 Cricket World Cup.
The Meeting will end with a press conference on 28 February. Media participation will be in-person with accreditation, and virtual.