Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley declared 2025 as a defining year for “the legacy of our generation” as she assumed leadership of the Caribbean Community (Caricom).
She emphasized unity as essential for addressing regional and global challenges, including climate change, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and crises in Haiti and beyond.
Mottley stressed the importance of resuming the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) to foster the free movement of goods, services, and people.
She described the CSME as a vision of unity and opportunity, vital for the region’s development. She also called for reforms to the global financial system, opposing practices like blacklisting that disadvantage small states.
Advocating for the Bridgetown Initiative and the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, Mottley highlighted the need for equitable access to resources for sustainable growth. She urged global leaders to address the historical injustices of slavery and colonialism and to support Afro-descending communities worldwide.
Caricom’s member states include 15 nations working together for collective progress and resilience in the face of shared challenges.
