BELMOPAN, Fri. Jan. 14, 2022– The forty-eighth meeting of the Community Council of Ministers was held on Friday, January 14, under the chairmanship of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Immigration, Hon. Eamon Courtenay. At the meeting, which was held virtually, several key issues were discussed, including the Plan of Action for CSME implementation and the continued reform of the CARICOM Secretariat; the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on global production, freight rates, consumers, and businesses; and the deteriorating political, security, and humanitarian situation in Haiti.

Also present at the meeting was Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Amalia Mai, who updated the Council on preparations being made for the Thirty-Third Inter-Sessional Meeting of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, to be held from February 28 to March 1 in San Pedro Town. She also spoke on preparations for the IV CARICOM-SICA Summit, to be held on March 2.

The Community Council of Ministers is made up of ministers responsible for CARICOM affairs in all the member states. It is the second-highest organ of CARICOM, just below the Conference of Heads of Government. The Community Council’s main responsibility is the development of CARICOM’s strategic planning and the coordination of its economic integration, functional cooperation, and external relations.