Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew has begun a series of bilateral engagements with regional leaders in his capacity as Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), starting with an official visit to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The visit, which took place on 20th January, 2026, forms part of preparatory consultations ahead of the upcoming CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, which will be hosted in St. Kitts and Nevis from 24th to 27th February, 2026.
During the visit, Prime Minister Drew and his delegation met with the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Goodwin Friday, along with members of his Cabinet, for wide-ranging discussions on regional priorities and coordination. The talks focused on strengthening cooperation and aligning positions on key issues expected to feature prominently at the upcoming regional summit.
Prime Minister Drew’s chairmanship of CARICOM, which runs for a six-month term, is being guided by what officials describe as an interpersonal approach, aimed at strengthening dialogue, trust, and coordination among member states at a time of heightened global uncertainty and evolving regional dynamics.
Discussions during the St. Vincent engagement underscored the importance of deepening regional integration in practical and meaningful ways, with leaders emphasising the need for Caribbean citizens to better understand the tangible benefits of regional cooperation. Areas highlighted included education, security cooperation, disaster preparedness and response, economic coordination, and institutional collaboration—pillars seen as central to regional resilience and stability.
The engagement also reaffirmed a shared commitment among CARICOM leaders to address regional challenges through calm, candid, and respectful dialogue, recognising that differences may arise but must be managed in ways that preserve unity and advance the collective interest of the Caribbean.
Prime Minister Drew has said his tenure as CARICOM Chair will focus on purposeful leadership, people-centred integration, enhanced trade, and a renewed emphasis on outcomes that directly improve the lives of Caribbean citizens.
The meeting in St. Vincent and the Grenadines marks the first in a planned series of bilateral engagements Prime Minister Drew is expected to undertake with key CARICOM member states as part of efforts to help shape consensus ahead of the fiftieth CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in St. Kitts and Nevis.
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