MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN TRADE
MEDIA RELEASE
Foreign Minister Johnson Smith to represent Prime Minister Holness at
47th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Grenada
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith, will represent
Prime Minister Andrew Holness at the 47th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of
the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in St George’s, Grenada, from July 28-30, under the Chairmanship
of the Prime Minister of Grenada, the Honourable Dickon Mitchell.
Among the key issues for deliberation are climate change and sustainable development, free movement,
security issues, the situation in Haiti, the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the agri-food
systems work programme which prioritises food and nutrition security. CARICOM Heads will discuss the
operationalisation of the Multilateral Air Services Agreement (MASA) towards improving air transport within
the Community.
“Jamaica remains steadfast in its commitment to CARICOM and its collective goals. This meeting is
another opportunity to strengthen collaboration and address the pressing issues that affect our region,
particularly in the areas of food security, sustainable development and climate resilience, especially as
we grapple with the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl,” said Minister Johnson Smith as she expressed her
continued commitment to advancing Jamaica’s interests while bolstering regional integration efforts
Minister Johnson Smith added that the meeting will also review progress towards achieving full free
movement and the targets set under the 25 by 2025 initiative aimed at reducing regional food imports. “A
Strategy for Regional Digital Resilience 2025-2030 is also slated to be tabled, as we continue to work on
harmonising ICT policies, legislation, best practices, networks and services”, she said.
The Foreign Minister reaffirmed the importance of CARICOM Member States and institutions working
together “to achieve inclusive sustainable development, given our many shared challenges, including the
impact on the region’s aspirations caused by our vulnerability to stronger and more frequent weather
events.”
CARICOM is the oldest surviving integration movement in the developing world. It is a collective of 15
Member States and five Associate Members, established to promote economic integration and cooperation,
while coordinating foreign policy at the regional level
Photo Caption: Jamaica’s Foreign Minister, Senator the Honourable Kamina Johnson Smith (front left) and other Caribbean leaders pose for a group photo at the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Georgetown, Guyana.
