All articles tagged with #caricom
At CARICOM, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged a clear, humane approach to Cuba, noting the region’s reliance on Cuban doctors and teachers while calling for democracy and humanitarian relief; a Miami Republican congressman condemned his stance, underscoring the Caribbean’s delicate balancing act as leaders seek stability without abandoning democratic principles.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio travels to St. Kitts and Nevis for a CARICOM summit to push regional security, trade and stability as Washington pursues a Monroe Doctrine–style Western Hemisphere strategy, amid talks on Venezuela’s Maduro, Cuba’s humanitarian crisis, and broader shifts in geopolitics, with Rubio set to meet host Terrance Drew and other Caribbean leaders.
Caribbean tensions rise as Trinidad's Prime Minister accuses neighboring leaders of badmouthing the U.S. over military build-up and visa restrictions, leading to regional disputes and questions about U.S. policies in the Caribbean.
Haiti has established a transitional ruling council responsible for selecting the country's next leadership, with the mandate to appoint a new prime minister and an impartial electoral council. The council, comprising seven voting members and two non-voting observers, will exercise certain presidential powers until a new president-elect is inaugurated by February 7, 2026. The move comes amid a security crisis in Haiti, with attacks by gangs disrupting vital supply lines and causing acute food insecurity for nearly 5 million people.
U.N. chief Antonio Guterres called for reparations to address the enduring impact of transatlantic slavery, emphasizing the need for reparatory justice frameworks to combat generations of exclusion and discrimination. The movement for reparations, including financial compensation and debt cancellations, has gained momentum globally, with the Caricom reparations commission seeking redress from former colonial powers. A recent poll in the UK showed support for financial compensation and a formal apology to the Caribbean, while advocates urge former colonial powers to acknowledge their responsibility.
Caribbean leaders are in the process of forming a transitional presidential council to select an interim prime minister for Haiti amidst ongoing gang violence. The council, which has been reduced to eight members after one party declined a seat, will also appoint a council of ministers, a provisional electoral council, and a national security council. The situation in Port-au-Prince remains tense and volatile, with schools, hospitals, and government buildings being attacked, and the health sector struggling due to a lack of medical supplies and personnel. The deployment of a foreign armed force has been delayed, and the council members must support this deployment.
A plan to establish a transitional presidential council in Haiti is progressing, with Caribbean officials stating that a majority of Haitian parties and coalitions have submitted names to lead the transition. The council will be responsible for selecting an interim prime minister and council of ministers, as well as organizing general elections. This development comes amid escalating violence and security concerns in Haiti, with powerful gangs controlling much of the capital and recent attacks on key state institutions. The United Nations is also adjusting its presence in Haiti due to the volatile security situation.
Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry has resigned following an emergency CARICOM summit addressing the country's crisis of gang-led violence and postponed elections. The resignation comes amid pressure from gang leader Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier and a call for a transitional presidential council. The United States has pledged additional financial support for a UN-backed force to stabilize Haiti and facilitate a political transition.
Secretary Blinken travels to Jamaica to attend a high-level meeting on Haiti, where he will discuss a proposal for a political transition in Haiti and the deployment of a Multinational Security Support Mission. He will also meet with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness to discuss bilateral and regional issues.
CARICOM leaders have agreed to implement the free movement of all categories of people within the region by March 2023, with the exception of Haiti. The decision was made during a three-day summit in Trinidad. The leaders also discussed contingent rights associated with the initiative, such as access to healthcare and education. The Treaty of Chaguaramas will be amended to guarantee these rights, and the CARICOM Development Fund will provide financing for the necessary services. Additionally, the leaders addressed the issue of air transportation in the Caribbean and mandated the Caribbean Development Bank to study and make recommendations on how to address the situation.