- 18 OCT 2023
Prime Minister Calls for Greater Collaboration with Canada on Regional Security
Prime Minister Dr the Hon Keith Rowley joined regional leaders for the first Canada-CARICOM Summit in Ottawa today (Wednesday 18th October, 2023).
The summit is co-chaired by the Prime Minister of Canada the Hon Justin Trudeau and the current Chair of CARICOM, Prime Minister of Dominica, the Hon Roosevelt Skerrit.
The talks provided an opportunity for direct focus on a number of matters of mutual importance. Climate change and resilience, access to finance and global financial architecture reform, Haiti, regional security, as well as trade and investment are among the issues that form part of the summit’s agenda.
This meeting follows an engagement between CARICOM Heads of Government and the Canadian Prime Minister during the 44th Regular Meeting of the Conference held in The Bahamas in February.
Today’s opening session explored several factors related to climate change. CARICOM leaders reiterated their calls for a balanced and fair energy transition. The session also served as a platform for leaders to consider the climate issues and commitments in the lead up to COP28 later this year.
With respect to access to financing, discussions centered on blacklisting, de-risking, access to concessional financing and other challenges.
Prime Minister Rowley, speaking on the issue of regional security, called for greater collaboration between Canada and the region.
Dr Rowley said cooperation with Canada was needed with respect to securing small craft to patrol and secure the borders of CARICOM nations.
The Prime Minister also identified police training, particularly in combatting cybercrime, as another area that could benefit from increased partnership with Canada.
Tomorrow, the second and final day of the summit, will feature a trade and investment roundtable where CARICOM leaders will meet Canadian business leaders active in the region.
