BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Outgoing Commonwealth Secretary-Common Patricia Scotland KC bade farewell to Caribbean Group (CARICOM) leaders, describing them as “ powerhouse throughout the Commonwealth.”
Addressing the plenary session of the CARICOM summit, which ends right here afterward Friday, Scotland, in an emotional speech, paid tribute to the power, unity, and management of the leaders and thanked them for his or her help and solidarity with the 56-member Commonwealth, an affiliation of impartial nations that work collectively to advertise democracy, peace, and improvement.
Praising their progress in local weather resilience and financial and sustainable improvement, she stated the Caribbean has solidified its place on the forefront of tackling international challenges.
The Dominican-born Secretary-Common steps down from her position on the finish of March. When she took workplace in 2016, she promised to advocate for Small Island Creating States (SIDS) and put it on the coronary heart of the Commonwealth’s mission.
Among the many achievements she highlighted on the summit was the enlargement of the Commonwealth Local weather Finance Entry Hub (CCFAH), which was conceived a decade in the past by an Eminent Individuals Group led by former President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo, who now serves as Vice-President of the nation.
CCFAH has helped Commonwealth member nations to unlock nearly US$400 million. These funds are used to construct resilience, put money into renewable vitality, and shield pure ecosystems.
Reflecting on her nine-year tenure after her intervention on the assembly, the Secretary-Common stated championing the Caribbean’s priorities on the worldwide stage had been probably the most unbelievable privilege of her life.
“I’m additionally immensely happy with the Commonwealth Meridian, which streamlines public debt administration. Commonwealth Meridian enhances transparency and accountability and helps knowledgeable decision-making for our member nations. And thru our reformed and digitized Meridian, we’ve got offered technical help to assist Caribbean nations handle public debt sustainably.”
The outgoing Secretary-Common can be encouraging member governments to completely make the most of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s program to spice up the effectivity of public companies and enhance efficiency administration.
“That is essential to the welfare of all residents, particularly small and creating island states in a post-pandemic world. Now we have developed a proprietary software program referred to as SMART (Strategic Administration and Accountability Outcomes Toolkit) as a software for the implementation of an efficient Authorities Efficiency Administration System.”
A number of Caribbean nations have taken benefit of the vital help offered by the Commonwealth, together with fast response protocols throughout crises equivalent to hurricanes, together with within the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.
Scotland has strongly advocated for a Loss and Harm Fund to help weak nations. It has additionally backed the Bridgetown Initiative, spearheaded by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, and the usage of the UN’s Multilateral Vulnerability Index to handle debt sustainability and local weather vulnerability.
The Commonwealth Secretariat has additionally empowered hundreds of younger individuals with digital expertise and established the Commonwealth AI Consortium and the Commonwealth AI Academy. It’s at the moment engaged on an enlargement of its digital literacy programme with the College of the West Indies.
The following Commonwealth Heads of Authorities Assembly (CHOGM) will probably be held in Antigua and Barbuda in 2026.
