Bridgetown, Barbados— The foreign ministers of the member states of the Caribbean community held a meeting on February 19, 2025 during the ongoing proceedings of the 48th regular meeting of the conference of heads of government of the Caribbean community at the capital city of Bridgetown in Barbados.
This was the 22nd special meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR). The meeting was chaired by the minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade of Jamaica, Kamina Johnson Smith, during which the foreign ministers of the member states discussed various regional and global challenges being faced by the Caribbean nations.
The meeting was also attended by CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett and Assistant Secretary-General for Foreign and Community Relations Elizabeth Solomon.
CARICOM COFCOR is responsible for coordinating various international policies to promote cooperation among a number of states in addressing external challenges related to trade and political engagement with the outside world.
The foreign ministers also discussed the candidacy of Suriname’s Foreign Minister, Albert Ramdin, for Secretary-General of the Organization of American States (OAS). It will be the first time that a Caribbean national will hold this position to drive various international policies.
Interacting with the media ahead of the meeting, Johnson Smith said that the member states discussed various challenges related to the geopolitical circumstances and hemispheric reality concerning the Caribbean nations.
Discussions during the meeting, including food security, maritime and air transportation, and establishment of the single market economy.
The current situation in Haiti was also discussed during the meeting. Foreign ministers also reviewed the progress that has been made since the last regular meeting of the CARICOM and undertook a review of the agenda for this year.
Climate change, economic recovery, and security concerns were also discussed during the meetings of the foreign ministers.
