Last Updated on July 6, 2026, 6:42 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Dr Terrance Drew reached Saint Lucia for 51st meeting of the CARICOM heads of Government on Sunday. He was greeted by several regional leaders, including the Prime Minister of Saint and Current Chairman of the CARICOM. Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, President Irfaan Ali of Guyana.
Dr Terrance Drew spoke to the leaders assembled in Saint Lucia and highlighted the work that was done under his tenure as Chairperson. The Prime Minister recalled the beginning of his own chairmanship and the previous meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government.
He highlighted that according to him Unity is the greatest strategic advantage at the disposal of the Caribbean Community. He highlighted that during his tenure as the chairman, here were genuine concerns about the future of the Caribbean Community.
The world had started questioning the cohesion of the CARICOM. Some wondered whether the organisation had reached a defining moment from which it might struggle to recover.
Dr Drew asserted that these concerns were real, which is why Dr Drew thought it was crucial for the region to strengthen relationships. This was a crucial step that needed to be taken before the CARICOM leadership could get to work on solving the issues, whether real or percieveed.
With this, the Prime Minister recalled that he visited all the permanent member tates of the Caribbean Community personally, He highlighted that these visits were not about publicity. They were not about speeches. They were about listening. They were about trust.
The Prime Minister further added that they were about ensuring that every leader had the opportunity to speak openly, honestly, and respectfully about the issues before us. Those conversations reminded me why CARICOM has endured for more than 50 years.
Drew said that the purpose of the meetings served as leaders were able to have face to face and frank discussions about the issues which were confronting the region.
Dr Terrance Drew also called for more regional leaders to attend retreats to foster productive discussions being done privately, “Whenever this community faces matters of great significance, let us ensure that every head of government makes every effort to be present for our retreats and caucuses to resolve matters in-house.”
According to him, private discussions can strengthen the Caribbean region more than public disagreements.
The outgoing chairman also highlighted that during the last six months, the Caribbean region has seen united action on issues like Climate Change, food security, International geopolitical tensions. He also talked about strengthening the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME). He also mentioned the advancement that the region has seen in terms of Trade cooperation, Labour mobility and Regional economic growth.
Dr Drew also talked about the work that the regional organisations have been crucial for supporting the region through some of the most challenging times in the region.
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.
