Last Updated on May 21, 2026, 1:35 PM AST by Anthony Morris
Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, Minister of Foreign Affairs from St. Kitts and Nevis represented the twin island at the Twenty-Ninth Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR). The meeting was held for two days starting on Wednesday 20 to Thursday 21 May 2026 in Paramaribo, Suriname.
The main purpose of the meeting was to have discussion on Caribbean related important topics including, regional foreign policy coordination, hemispheric and international relations, climate resilience and sustainable development. In the meeting Foreign Ministers across the Caribbean region also looked into CARICOM’s engagement with the United Nations and OAS and talked about the adaptation of new approaches towards economic diplomacy and strategic partnership.
The meeting was akso crucial because of the transfer of positions which was supposed to take place during this process. St Kitts and Nevis Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Douglas, the outgoing chair of COFCOR, handed over the leadership for the next two years 2026-2027 to Suriname’s Foreign Minister, Melvin Bouva.
The 29th Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) was led by Dr. Carla Barnet, Secretary General of CARICOM. In the meeting she highlighted the importance of regional unity. She said, “one of our Caribbean Community’s greatest strengths is our ability to project a united voice. None of our small nations can effectively confront these challenges in isolation, working together is therefore not an option, it is an imperative”.
Dr. Carla Barnet, Secretary General of CARICOM also announced the upcoming multilateral engagements which are scheduled to take place in 2026, including:
1 28th commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and
Barbuda.
2 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UGNA)
3 56th Regular Session of the Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly
4 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31)
Moreover, other foreign ministers from across the region also actively participated in the meeting, including E.P. Chet Greene Minister of Foreign Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Vince Henderson.
Additionally, in the meeting there were more representatives from countries across the Caribbean region including the Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago.
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.
