Access to fair opportunities with AI needed for equitable society – CARICOM SG

Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dr. Carla Barnett on Monday said racial discrimination, access to equal opportunities and reparatory justice for people of African descent must be addressed globally in order to have an equitable society.

During her address at the 4th Session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent at the United Nations, Headquarters in New York, Dr. Barnett committed CARICOM’s support for the deliberations that will be conducted over the four-day event and said the outcomes are highly anticipated.

This year’s theme is “Africa and People of African Descent: United for Reparatory Justice in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” The forum will feature speakers from across the globe presenting their roles and key contributions to the global agenda for reparatory justice.

She said the injustices the global African community face are a top priority, and with the advancement of technology, people of African descent are at risk of being left behind.

“Inequitable access to AI tools and training further widens the digital divide, disadvantaging and leaving people of African heritage and their businesses ill-equipped to effectively compete in a rapidly evolving global economy in which AI is increasingly a critical factor,” Dr. Barnett said.

She added that in order to navigate these vulnerabilities, it is important for the prominent forum to advocate for inclusive policy frameworks and initiatives that can provide digital literacy.

Dr Barnett also said the forum continues to provide an opportunity to confront the consequences of European colonisation and enslavement. And, she noted reparations for Haiti – a country in crisis – is a major focus for CARICOM.

“Reparations for Haiti continues to be central to CARICOM’s reparations claim. April 2025 marks the bicentenary of the indemnity of a 150 million Francs imposed on Haiti by France as reparation for loss of property including enslaved Africans as a precondition for recognizing the island’s independence,” Dr. Barnett said.

She also said the forum serves as a platform to aid in addressing the ongoing security, humanitarian and governance crisis in the country.