Mottley calls for ‘urgent unity, bold action’ as CARICOM Summit opens

In a powerful and impassioned address on Wednesday evening, Mia Amor Mottley, the Prime Minister of Barbados and current Chair of CARICOM, addressed the distinguished gathering at the 48th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Bridgetown.

Mottley’s speech echoed a deep call for regional solidarity and immediate action as the Caribbean faces unprecedented global challenges.

Delivering the keynote address, Mottley acknowledged the dire issues confronting the world, with a particular emphasis on the devastating impact of the climate crisis.

Drawing on the lived experiences of Caribbean citizens who endure the yearly threat of hurricanes, she reflected on the vulnerability of the region.

“We know first-hand how the world has become an awful place since the pandemic,” she said.

Prime Minister Mottley, speaking with deep empathy, highlighted the plight of Caribbean farmers and fishermen who grapple with the effects of natural disasters and the growing unpredictability of the climate.

“Each summer, we hold our breath, hoping that it won’t be our turn,” she stated, underscoring the shared experience of climate vulnerability across the Caribbean.

Mottley emphasized that the Caribbean region can no longer afford to operate as it has in the past.

“It cannot be business as usual,” she declared, as she urged her fellow leaders to commit to a more unified, bold approach to the challenges at hand.

“The only way we will make it through these difficult times is if we are prepared to be more unified and bolder than ever,” she urged.

The Prime Minister’s message also touched on the importance of regional collaboration, especially in the face of international crises. She expressed gratitude for the growing partnerships between CARICOM and other international bodies, noting the significance of the Caribbean’s relationship with the African Union and other global stakeholders.

“Partnerships across the world will be important if we are going to survive the many challenges that are not unique to any one region,” she said.

In addition to climate change, Mottley raised urgent concerns about the rising cost of living across the Caribbean, particularly in relation to food security.

With the threat of climate-induced disruptions to traditional sources of food, she underscored the importance of regional production.

“Food and water are the new oil of the 21st century,” she said, stressing that the Caribbean must move beyond discussion and into action in boosting regional self-sufficiency.

Education, too, was a central theme in Mottley’s address. She lamented the state of the region’s educational systems, which, in her view, still bear the imprint of colonial legacies. “We cannot build out this region with the old educational systems of the colonial era,” she said, calling for an urgent overhaul to create an education system more attuned to the modern needs of Caribbean societies.

Mottley also addressed the critical issue of crime, particularly the challenges posed by gun violence.

Referring to the George Bridge Declaration reached in Guyana in November 2024, she highlighted the need to strengthen law enforcement and reform criminal justice systems. She called for a holistic approach to crime, describing it as a “public health disease” that must be tackled not only through law enforcement but by creating better opportunities for young people.