STORY BY JACQUELINE CHARLES, MIAMI HERALD
OTTAWA, Canada, October 18, 2023 — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and leaders of the Caribbean Community kicked off a two-day summit in Ottawa on Wednesday, launching a first-ever strategic partnership that they hope will enhance their commercial relationship and provide the vulnerable small island states of the region with a strong ally as they tackle major global challenges
“Today’s engagement provides another opportunity for dialogue on strategies to further strengthen our cooperation,” said Carla Barnett, the secretary general for the 15-member regional bloc known as CARICOM. “Persistent socioeconomic challenges continue to intersect with our common goals in foreign policy, trade, security and development. Effectively addressing these global challenges requires focused global efforts founded on global solidarity and driven by collective action.”
The gathering marked the second time in eight months that Trudeau and the Caribbean heads of government and state have met face to face. Their last meeting was in February in Nassau, Bahamas, where the crisis in Haiti was a major discussion point.
“Over the years Canada and the Caribbean Community have built an enduring partnership and friendship. We share strong ties between our peoples,” Trudeau said in his welcoming remarks. “As strategic partners, as friends, if we want to protect our people, if we want to deliver for our people we have to work together.”
Among the issues on the agenda over the next two days: climate change and resilience, access to finance, reform of international finance, regional security, Immigration, trade and investment and the situation in Haiti.
“Mr. Prime Minister, more than ever before, Haiti needs us,” Dominica Prime Minister and CARICOM Chairman Roosevelt Skerrit told Trudeau.
Skerrit said hemispheric security and the multifaceted crisis in Haiti will feature prominently in their discussions. The bloc has been involved in trying to broker a political agreement between Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who is in attendance in Ottawa, and members of the country’s opposition and civil society. So far, they have not been able to come to an agreement..
In February, after it became clear that Canada would not be taking the lead on sending an international armed force into Haiti, CARICOM announced that it would focus its efforts on assisting the Haiti National Police rather than sending in troops.
Months later, after lobbying by both U.S. officials and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, who attended CARICOM’s 50th anniversary celebration in Trinidad in July, the community reversed course. Caribbean leaders were among those who endorsed a resolution penned by the United States and Ecuador at the U.N. Security Council approving a Kenya-led deployment of forces into Haiti. Several Caribbean countries are among the nations that have volunteered to help field the operation.
“We are encouraged by the recent U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing a multinational security mission to help address Haiti’s security challenges and create conditions for long-term stability and personal preparedness,” Skerrit said, as he turned to Trudeau and added, “do what you must for the people of Haiti.”
Outside of the crisis in the community’s largest member state other pressing matters will be discussed, Skerrit and Barnett said. That includes the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the region’s tourist-dependent economies, the war in Ukraine, which is raising food prices, and the ongoing impact of climate change. Also of concern is the ongoing crisis in the Middle East following the Hamas attacks against Israel.
“CARICOM has joined the responsible members of the international community in calling for an end to the hostilities. It is our hope that all parties will work together for a lasting solution to the cycle of violence,” Skerrit said.
Trudeau acknowledged that their gathering was happening against a backdrop of “great turbulence following the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas.”
“The conflict in the Middle East is reverberating around the world,” he said, adding that Canada is closely monitoring the situation.
“Recent years,” the Canadian prime minister later added, “have demonstrated how interconnected we all are. The pandemic was a health crisis. But it was also a crisis that affected supply chains and economies. The war of Russia and Ukraine has increased inflation and led to food insecurity. And this month, the terrorist states of Hamas have led to a lot of fear and uncertainty in communities across the globe.”
©2023 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Quick Facts
- This Canada-CARICOM Summit is the first time a CARICOM Summit has been held outside the Caribbean, a testament to the bond between Canada and the region.
- CARICOM is comprised of Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. The overseas territories of Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, and Turks & Caicos Islands are Associate Members.
- In 2022, Canada’s two-way merchandise trade with CARICOM countries reached $1.8 billion. In 2021, bilateral trade in services reached $3.9 billion.
- During the Summit Prime Minister Trudeau will lead three sessions: Climate Change and Climate Resilience / Building Inclusive and Sustainable Economies; Access to Finance and Global Financial Architecture Reform; Regional Security and Haiti.
