Mia Mottley Rallies CARICOM Leaders

Incoming Chairperson of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, has urged regional leaders to help secure the Caribbean's financial future. In her New Year's Day statement, Ms. Mottley said Heads of Government need to implement the recommendations of the CARICOM Commission on the Economy. "We must also confront the injustices of the global financial system, which continue to marginalise Small Island and low-lying Developing States. Unjust blacklisting practices, and insufficient access to concessional financing hinder our sustainable development efforts." The CARICOM Chair called for the full implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. "CARICOM will persist in advocating for reforms championed in the Bridgetown Initiative and working with others, like the 73 vulnerable countries in the Climate Vulnerable Forum as we fight for a better financial landscape regionally and globally, within which we can build resilience, prosperity, and yes, equity, fairness, for all our people." She added that Heads must agree on a floor of rights for the Caribbean people, providing them with some degree of protection and the opportunities they need. "We also urge the adoption and the laser-like refining of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) to secure critical resources for our region’s future as we face these crises that are often beyond our control to avoid, but for which we must strengthen our resilience to survive." Prime Minister Mottley replaced the outgoing chair of CARICOM, Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell.