It was a kaleidoscope of colours at the CARICOM Day Reception held on July 19th at the International Maritime Organisation in London. The CARICOM caucus of high Commissioners celebrated the 51st anniversary of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) by showcasing the rich cultural diversity of the region and the shared history that unites us. In attendance were Sir Clive Lloyd, recipient of CARICOM’s Highest Award, Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Patricia Scotland, other representatives from the Commonwealth, government, international organisations,the business community, CARICOM, and the diplomatic corps.
The event also marked the transition of the Chair of the Caucus of High Commissioners in London from the High Commissioner of Guyana to the High Commissioner of Grenada, Her Excellency Rachér Croney, with the symbolic handing over of the CARICOM flag as Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell assumes Chair of Caricom.
In her address, High Commissioner Croney noted that CARICOM is on the frontlines of a very real and existential threat. She stated, “As the least contributors to greenhouse gases, The Caribbean community is a block of some of the world’s most vulnerable nations that each year face the threat of survival due to climate change, from rising sea levels, severe heat, drought, rainfall, flooding, and earthquakes to life-threatening hurricanes.
The impact on our region is unquantifiable.” Following the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 1st, the
The celebration was used as an opportunity to highlight the climatic and economic challenges in the region and to demand more in the fight against climate change.
Her Excellency Rachér Croney made a “united call for more pledges to the loss and damage fund, better access to financing, better terms for concessionary loans, more climate adaptation and resilience projects, more investment in sustainable infrastructural development, and more action from the world’s largest contributors to the climate crisis.”
She ended her address with an appeal for more climate action and justice. In a video-recorded address, Prime Minister Hon. Dickon Mitchell and Chair of Caricom emphasised the need for unity to ensure the region’s resilience amidst external shocks and natural disasters. He stated, “We are constantly reminded of how vulnerable the Caribbean region is to external shocks, including the forces of nature. The devastation wrought by Hurricane Beryl earlier this month was a stark reminder of the urgency with which we must address the issue of climate change. In the face of these challenges, the spirit of CARICOM must continue to shine brightly. It is also imperative
that we leverage our collective expertise and resources to mitigate the impact of these natural disasters, protect lives, and livelihood of our people.”
Prime Minister Mitchell noted that our diversity and commonality as a region are our strengths, and we must embrace the challenges ahead with courage and determination if we are to grow, thrive, and prosper as one Caribbean community.
The Caucus of High Commissioners also used the opportunity to recognise the contributions of three CARICOM nationals. Awards of Excellence were awarded to the Right Honourable Patricia Scotland, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, for advocacy in support of small states, the Right Honourable Baroness Benjamin for contributions to the arts, and entertainment, and Dr. Johnson Beharry for his work in combating gang-related violence.
The curtains came down on a successful event with a true celebration of Caribbean unity and culture under the mantra—stronger together, we will rise!
