{"id":11777,"date":"2023-10-23T09:08:54","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T13:08:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/?p=11777"},"modified":"2023-10-23T09:10:07","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T13:10:07","slug":"grenada-at-inaugural-canada-caricom-summit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drealfmgrenada.com\/index.php\/2023\/10\/23\/grenada-at-inaugural-canada-caricom-summit\/","title":{"rendered":"Grenada at Inaugural Canada\u2013Caricom Summit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Held under the theme \u201cStrategic Partners for a Resilient Future,\u201d the Canada-Caricom Summit, which coincides with the Caribbean Community\u2019s (Caricom) celebration of its 50th<\/sup>\u00a0anniversary, was co-chaired by Prime Minister Trudeau and Dominica\u2019s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who is currently Chair of the Conference of Caricom Heads of Government.<\/p>\n

One of the overarching highlights of this summit was the launch of a Strategic Partnership, establishing a new permanent mechanism for structured high-level engagement and follow-through on joint actions. The leaders reaffirmed their unwavering friendship, built on strong people-to-people, historical and cultural ties, shared economic interests, and a commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law.<\/p>\n

Generally, deliberations at the summit focused on the key priorities of climate change, access to finance, regional and global security, and trade and investment.<\/p>\n

Climate Change<\/strong><\/p>\n

Regarding climate change, leaders called for an intensified collaborative effort to limit global temperature increase to 1.5\u00b0C above pre-industrial levels. Recognising recent efforts on mitigation, adaptation, and the protection of biodiversity, they expressed the importance of practical actions, such as assistance on carbon pricing and operationalising a fund to compensate for loss and damage from climate change in the lead-up to COP28 and beyond.<\/p>\n

The Caricom leaders at the summit welcomed Canada\u2019s new support of $64.5 million in new climate financing, and $10 million for resilient agriculture systems.<\/p>\n

Access To Finance<\/strong><\/p>\n

Addressing the issue of access to finance, the leaders acknowledged the particular vulnerabilities of Caricom countries to external shocks and offered perspectives on how to overcome systemic challenges in order to access finance. Focus was placed on reforming the international financial architecture, including the proposals of the Bridgetown Initiative.<\/p>\n

Leaders agreed to work together in advancing solutions, such as new criteria to access finance at the Caribbean Development Bank, the widespread adoption of climate resilience debt clauses, and jointly advocating for common interests through Canada and Caricom members\u2019 shared constituency at the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.<\/p>\n

Regional Security<\/strong><\/p>\n

Regarding regional security, the leaders focused mainly on the crisis in Haiti. They welcomed the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2699 (2023) adopted on 2 October 2023, and emphasised the importance of establishing a strong transitional government of unity to give legitimacy to the multinational security support mission (MSS).<\/p>\n

The leaders fully supported the central role of Caricom and its Eminent Persons Group (EPG) in advancing political dialogue to establish a stable and representative arrangement that can effectively govern towards free and fair elections, and work with the international community to set the parameters for the MSS.<\/p>\n

Canada\u2019s coordinating role in building the Haitian National Police (HNP) capacity, including additional training support of the HNP, was also welcomed by the regional leaders.<\/p>\n

The leaders also engaged on key security challenges in the region, including illicit trafficking of weapons and drugs, and surging violent crime. With regard to these areas of concern, Canada committed $6.6 million to tackle illegal arms trafficking in Haiti and the wider Caribbean, as well as $4.6 million to address gender-based violence and women\u2019s rights in the Eastern Caribbean.<\/p>\n

\"\"
L-R: Roxie McLeish-Hutchinson, Hon. Joseph Andall and Gerry Hopkin. Photo: Consulate General of Grenada in Toronto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Global Peace & Security<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leaders also addressed the importance of Canada\u2019s and Caricom\u2019s common commitment to enhance peace and security in both the Western hemisphere and the wider world, including the situations in Venezuela and in the Middle East. A Joint Statement on Global and Regional Issues was released separately by leaders.<\/p>\n

Trade and Investment<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Canadian leader and his Caricom counterparts also deliberated on growth opportunities in the region to deepen commercial ties between Canada and Caricom nations. Significantly, Caricom leaders welcomed Canada\u2019s expansion of the Commonwealth Caribbean Countries Tariff (CCCT) programme, which gives countries in the region duty-free trade access to the Canadian market, to include textiles and apparel, as well as a new foreign labour programme for agriculture and fish processing under the Temporary Foreign Worker Programme.<\/p>\n

Shared priority sectors outlined for trade and investment included agriculture, renewable energy and infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Leaders also offered insights on addressing ongoing supply chain issues; increasing the movement of people, goods, and investments; facilitating educational exchanges; and critical development needs. The importance of engaging Caribbean diaspora communities in Canada to build strong and sustainable economies was also elaborated upon.<\/p>\n

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Leaders at Canada-Caricom SUmmit. Photo: Consulate General of Grenada in Toronto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Participants<\/strong><\/p>\n

The following leaders participated in the Summit: Canada\u2019s Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau; Antigua and Barbuda\u2019s High Commissioner His Excellency Ronald Sanders; Bahamas\u2019 Prime Minister Hon. Philip Davis; Barbados\u2019 Prime Minister Hon. Mia Mottley; Belize\u2019s Prime Minister Hon. Johnny Brice\u00f1o; Dominica\u2019s Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, who co-chaired the first day of proceedings; Grenada\u2019s Foreign Affairs, Trade and Export Development Minister Hon. Joseph Andall, who explained that Prime Minister Hon. Dickon Mitchell would also have been present, but for conflicting domestic national obligations.<\/p>\n

Also in attendance were Guyana\u2019s President Hon. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who co-chaired the latter part of the proceedings, deputising for PM Skerrit, who had to make an early departure, necessitated by the threats of a late hurricane season weather system that was headed in the direction of Dominica; Haiti\u2019s Prime Minister Hon. Ariel Henry; Jamaica\u2019s Prime Minister Hon. Andrew Holness; St Kitts and Nevis\u2019s Prime Minister Hon. Terrance Drew; St Lucia\u2019s Prime Minister Hon. Philip Pierre; St Vincent and the Grenadines\u2019 Prime Minister Hon. Ralph Gonsalves; Suriname\u2019s President Hon. Chandrikapersad Santokhi; Trinidad and Tobago\u2019s Prime Minister Keith Rowley; and Caricom\u2019s Secretary General, Carla Natalie Barnett.<\/p>\n

Grenada\u2019s delegation at the Summit included Permanent Secretary Roxie McLeish-Hutchinson and Consul General in Toronto His Excellency Gerry Hopkin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Held under the theme \u201cStrategic Partners for a Resilient Future,\u201d the Canada-Caricom Summit, which coincides with the Caribbean Community\u2019s (Caricom) celebration of its 50th\u00a0anniversary, was co-chaired by Prime Minister Trudeau and Dominica\u2019s Prime Minister Roosevelt 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