Jamaica is about to imagine the chairmanship of the Caribbean Neighborhood (CARICOM) on July 1, 2025, beneath the theme ‘Individuals, Partnerships, Prosperity: Selling a Safe and Sustainable Future’.
The announcement was made by Minister of International Affairs and International Commerce, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, throughout a briefing with the diplomatic corps on the Ministry’s places of work in downtown Kingston on Tuesday, June 3.
Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, will take over management of the regional physique from Prime Minister of Barbados, Hon. Mia Mottley. Dr. Holness will function chair till December 31, 2025, at which era he’ll hand over to Prime Minister of St. Kitts-Nevis, Hon. Terrance Drew.
As a part of his tenure, Prime Minister Holness will host the forty ninth Common Assembly of the Convention of Heads of Authorities of CARICOM, which can convene CARICOM member states, affiliate members, regional our bodies and particular company. The assembly will happen on the Montego Bay Conference Centre in St. James, from July 6 to eight.
Senator Johnson Smith unveiled the official brand for the convention, which options Jamaica’s nationwide chook—the hummingbird—alongside the colors of the Jamaican flag and CARICOM’s signature blue.
The Minister defined that Jamaica’s chairmanship theme “was chosen to make sure that we’re capable of deal with the challenges and alternatives of our time inside the 4 pillars of our group – financial integration, human and social improvement, overseas coverage coordination, and safety.”
She emphasised that Jamaica goals to deepen regional collaboration to pursue shared developmental targets. “One specific space of focus for us shall be safety as we search to extend deal with transnational organised crime, particularly gangs, and the way we improve collaborative measures to sort out this widespread difficulty,” she mentioned.
“Whereas the plans kind a part of a long-term technique, we anticipate that any rapid progress on this space can even contribute to the continued efforts to revive peace and stability in Haiti, and deal with their problems with heightened gang exercise, which has exacerbated their multidimensional disaster,” she added.
A safety expertise expo shall be staged alongside the forty ninth assembly, showcasing Jamaica’s advances in crime preventing. “We’re taking the chance to showcase the numerous strides made by Jamaica in crime preventing, thanks largely to partnerships and to the strategic use of expertise,” Senator Johnson Smith mentioned.
The expo shall be open to delegates and their technical groups, providing a platform for sharing instruments and greatest practices.
In observance of CARICOM Day, the convention shall be preceded by the 18th CARICOM Street Race on July 5. “Groups from throughout the area shall be collaborating on this 10K or 5K run and stroll, which is linked to the area’s continued promotion of wholesome existence amongst our inhabitants to sort out non-communicable ailments and promote well being and wellness,” the Senator knowledgeable.
The race shall be adopted by the opening ceremony and welcome reception on July 6, hosted by Prime Minister Holness.
“On the seventh and eighth of July, our principal enterprise classes will happen, and we’ll, in that context, deliberate on the necessary priorities of the area,” Johnson Smith acknowledged.
Among the many key agenda objects for the closed classes are implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economic system (CSME), local weather change and local weather financing, meals and vitamin safety, regional safety—together with Haiti—transportation, training, digitalisation, telecommunications, inhabitants points, and training transformation.
The important thing outcomes from the assembly shall be shared with the general public through a press convention following the conclusion of the closed classes.
