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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, February 26, 2019 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, has urged his fellow regional Heads of Government to take the necessary steps to reposition CARICOM in order to face the challenges that confront the regional bloc.

“To do so, we must harness our collective wisdom, identify our competitive strengths and use our creativity to carve out a space for us to thrive,” Chairman Harris stated earlier today (Tuesday, February 26) during his remarks at the opening ceremony of the 30th Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM taking place in St. Kitts and Nevis, from February 26-27.

Prime Minister Harris noted that as efforts are made to reposition the regional body, CARICOM nations must also “confront the inequities being visited upon us by forging strong alliances, by strong, sustained advocacy and by cleverly using the avenues open to us to contest the unjust actions of the international community.”

The CARICOM Chairman further indicated that innovative thinking and the collective intellectual capacity of the region are critically important if they are to achieve this goal.

“Our Community possesses enough of both to design solutions and craft responses to the challenges that have been thrust upon us,” the prime minister said.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Harris said that the complex challenges facing small island developing states, such as the different CARICOM nations, cannot be confronted individually.

“Together we can forge a path and find creative solutions to ensure progress towards sustainable development. That will be a true demonstration of the power of unity,” Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris added.

The St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Harris assumed Chairmanship of CARICOM on January 01, 2019 from the Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness.