Last Updated on February 22, 2025, 8:30 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew, together with Caribbean leaders discussed and resolved various Caribbean regional issues at the 48th Meeting of the Conference of Heads Of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The two-day meeting commenced on Thursday, February 20th, 2025, and is being held in Barbados, under the theme ‘Strength in Unity: Forging Caribbean Resilience, Inclusive Growth, and Sustainable Development’.
During the meeting, the leaders of several Caribbean nations have been discussing ways to tackle issues concerning their country.
PM Drew highlighted five key areas that the government of St Kitts and Nevis is focusing on in 2025, which include Health and Human Development, Security, Energy, the Global Sustainable Islands Summit, and the 25 by 2025 initiative.
Health and Human Development
As a medical doctor, PM Drew chose this area as their main focus in 2025 to further improve the healthcare sector and improve human development to advance national progress of the Federation.
PM Dr Terrance Drew took this meeting as an opportunity to align with the broader objectives of CARICOM to improve healthcare systems, create more access to quality medical services, and strengthen their ability to respond to emergency health issues.
Security
The Government of St Kitts and Nevis has put the nation’s security as one of their major concerns this year. They are focusing on tackling any regional threat such as organized crime, illicit trafficking, and cyber-related crimes, that may cause trouble to the citizens and residents of the Federation.
The efforts made by the government of St Kitts and Nevis to improve security includes modernized national security infrastructure, investment in law enforcement training, and implementation policies to promote public safety.
Energy
With St Kitts and Nevis transforming to renewable energy through geothermal and solar projects, the CARICOM meeting offers them a great opportunity to partner with leaders of other nations on sustainable energy solutions.
Discussions based on this topic during the meeting will mainly focus on reducing reliance on fossil fuels, increasing investment in green technology, and ensuring climate-friendly policies for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Global Sustainable Islands Summit
The Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2025, a platform to address climate-related challenges faced by SIDS, will be hosted by St Kitts and Nevis.
PM Drew is looking for stronger international collaborations, increased climate financing, and implementation of resilient infrastructure to protect the citizens and residents of the Federation from rising sea levels, unpredictable weather patterns, and economic vulnerabilities.
25 by 2025 initiative
The government of St Kitts and Nevis launched the ‘25 by 2025’ initiative with an aim to reduce the nation’s food import bill by 25% by the end of the year 2025, while also expanding agricultural production, investment in local agribusinesses, and promoting regional self-sufficiency.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
