CARICOM Marks 50 Years with Stellar Cast of Leaders

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

July 7, 2023 – António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations joined Caribbean Leaders at the 45th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting this year as the organization marked its 50th anniversary.

Also attending the event with the full complement of regional members of CARICOM was Han Duck-Soo, South Korean Prime Minister; Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda; and Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State.

During the Opening Ceremony, both full member states and associate members like the Turks and Caicos were recognized and their leaders invited on stage.

E Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier, represented the Turks and Caicos in that capacity.

Following a full day of celebratory events on July 4th marking the Golden Jubilee, the Caribbean Community moved into its final day of meetings on July 5th.

Held in Trinidad and Tobago, this year’s Heads of Government Meeting returned to where the Organization was founded and Secretary General Carla Barnett indicated this year’s meeting would focus on Food Security, the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, Climate Change and other pressing Issues.