Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Gaston Browne will depart the State on Sunday to participate in the Fifty-First Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which will be held in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, from 5–8 July 2026.
The Prime Minister will be accompanied by Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to CARICOM, Ambassador Clarence Henry,andSenior Foreign Service Officer Kurt Williams.
The Meeting will bring together Heads of Government from across the Caribbean Community to deliberate on a broad range of regional issues aimed at advancing economic integration, sustainable development, regional security, public health, climate resilience and foreign policy coordination.
Among the principal matters for discussion will be the continued advancement of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), the regional climate change and climate finance agenda, food and nutrition security, regional health preparedness, security cooperation, the situation in Haiti and Cuba, financing and governance of the Community, reparations, border issues, and applications for CARICOM membership by Bermuda and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Heads will also receive reports on cricket, CARIFESTA and other matters of regional importance.
A key agenda item will be the advancement of the CARICOM Agri-Food Systems Agenda, as regional leaders review progress under the Vision 25 by 2025+5 Initiative, which seeks to transform Caribbean food systems, reduce the Region’s dependence on imported food, strengthen food and nutrition security, increase agricultural production, expand intra-regional trade and improve resilience to external shocks. Heads of Government will also consider measures to stimulate greater private sector investment, strengthen regional agricultural cooperation and accelerate implementation of initiatives designed to enhance food self-sufficiency throughout the Community.
Commenting on his participation, Prime Minister Browne said, “This Meeting comes at a particularly important time for our Region as CARICOM confronts a rapidly changing global environment marked by geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, climate change and emerging public health threats. No Member State can effectively address these challenges in isolation. Our collective strength lies in regional cooperation, coordinated policymaking and a shared commitment to protecting the interests of our people. I look forward to engaging my fellow Heads of Government as we advance practical solutions to strengthen food and nutrition security, enhance economic resilience, deepen regional integration and ensure that the Caribbean remains well-positioned to navigate the uncertainties of the global landscape. Antigua and Barbuda will continue to play its part in shaping policies that promote sustainable development and improve the quality of life for all Caribbean citizens.”
The Conference will also examine a Regional Food Security ResponseMatrix developed by the CARICOM Secretariat in response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its potential implications for the Region. The strategic framework outlines measures to mitigate the impact of rising energy prices, fertilizer shortages, shipping and logistics disruptions, food price inflation and broader macroeconomic pressures that could affect Caribbean food security. Proposed actions include strengthening regional food production, expanding renewable energy use in agriculture, establishing strategic food reserves, enhancing regional shipping arrangements, promoting import substitution, strengthening social protection systems and deepening cooperation with international partners to safeguard the Region against external shocks.
Prime Minister Browne is expected to contribute actively to these discussions, reflecting Antigua and Barbuda’s longstanding advocacy for regional food sovereignty, increased agricultural productivity, resilient supply chains and greater collaboration among CARICOM Member States to address emerging global challenges.
The Conference will also consider regional health security and preparedness in light of emerging global public health threats. Leaders will review recommendations from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) aimed at strengthening surveillance at ports of entry, enhancing regional coordination and information sharing, improving national preparedness and ensuring greater access to medical countermeasures. These discussions follow the World Health Organization’s declaration of the Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and underscore CARICOM’s commitment to protecting the health and well-being of Caribbean citizens.
Prime Minister Browne has consistently championed deeper regional integration and coordinated Caribbean action on issues affecting Small Island Developing States. His participation at the Conference provides another opportunity to advance Antigua and Barbuda’s national interests while contributing to collective regional solutions in the areas of economic development, food and nutrition security, climate resilience, public health, security cooperation and sustainable growth.
The Prime Minister is expected to return to Antigua and Barbuda following the conclusion of the Meeting on July 8.
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