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A Model For Unity: CARICOM’s Regional Cooperation Shines In The Caribbean
CARICOM: A Beacon Of Regional Unity And Cooperation In The Caribbean
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has been a cornerstone of regional cooperation and integration in the Caribbean for over four decades. As the Region faces an increasingly complex and challenging global landscape, CARICOM’s role in fostering a more integrated, prosperous, and secure Caribbean has never been more critical.
The 47th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, held in St. George’s, Grenada, from July 28-30, was a testament to the organization’s unwavering commitment to deepening integration and advancing the interests of its member states. The meeting was marked by several significant milestones, including the admission of Curaçao as the sixth Associate Member, the conferral of the Order of the Caribbean Community on two regional icons, and robust discussions on critical regional issues.
The formal admission of Curaçao as an Associate Member marked a new chapter in regional cooperation. Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas expressed his country’s commitment to contributing to and benefiting from CARICOM membership, highlighting the potential for enhanced economic cooperation, cultural exchange, and collective action on regional challenges.
“Curaçao is proud to join the CARICOM family and contribute to the Region’s development,” Prime Minister Pisas said. “We believe that our membership will strengthen ties between our countries and foster greater cooperation in areas such as trade, tourism, and education.”
The conferral of the Order of the Caribbean Community on Sir Clive Lloyd and former CARICOM Secretary-General, the Honourable Roderick Rainford, OJ, was a poignant reminder of the Region’s rich legacy of achievement. Their contributions to West Indies cricket and regional integration, respectively, serve as inspirations to future generations of Caribbean leaders.
“Sir Clive Lloyd and Ambassador Rainford are shining examples of the Caribbean’s potential for excellence,” CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr. Carla Barnett, said. “Their dedication, passion, and commitment to the Region’s development are an inspiration to us all.”
Chairman of the Conference, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, sounded a clarion call to action on climate change, emphasizing the devastating impact of this global phenomenon on the Region. As CARICOM continues to
The Caribbean Community is a beacon of hope for a resilient Caribbean,” Dr. Barnett said. “We will continue to work together to address the challenges we face, seize opportunities for growth and development, and build a brighter future for our Region
advocate for climate justice, its member states remain resolute in their commitment to reducing carbon emissions, promoting sustainable development, and building resilience in the face of uncertainty.
“Climate change is a pressing issue that requires collective action and cooperation,” Prime Minister Mitchell said. “We must work together to address this global challenge and ensure a sustainable future for our Region.”
CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr. Carla Barnett, highlighted the significant role of CARICOM institutions in deepening integration, citing the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency’s (CDEMA) efforts in relief and recovery as an example. As the Region continues to navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing world, its institutions remain critical to fostering cooperation, promoting economic growth, and advancing the interests of its member states.
“Our institutions are the backbone of our integration process,” Dr. Barnett said. “They provide the framework for cooperation, facilitate the exchange of ideas and best practices, and support the implementation of regional policies and programs.”
Outgoing Chair, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, reflected on CARICOM’s accomplishments, including improvements in food and nutrition security, advancements in restoring peaceful governance in Haiti, and efforts to revitalize West Indies cricket. His tenure was marked by a renewed focus on regional cooperation, economic integration, and collective action on regional challenges.
“I am proud of the progress we have made in advancing the Region’s interests,” President Ali said. “We have demonstrated our commitment to cooperation, our resilience in the face of adversity, and our determination to build a better future for our citizens.”
As CARICOM looks to the future, its commitment to fostering a more integrated, prosperous, and secure Caribbean remains unwavering. The 47th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government was a testament to the organization’s resolve to deepen regional cooperation, promote economic growth, and advance the interests of its member states.
“The Caribbean Community is a beacon of hope for a resilient Caribbean,” Dr. Barnett said. “We will continue to work together to address the challenges we face, seize opportunities for growth and development, and build a brighter future for our Region.”
📢 Diaspora Watch Newspaper – 88th Edition is Out!
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Explore key global developments shaping today’s world:
• U.S.–Iran tensions after Islamabad talks collapse
• Gulf crisis and Strait of Hormuz concerns
• UN push to recognize slavery as a crime against humanity
• Africa CDC warns of major health system inefficiencies
• China’s IT expansion and India’s COP33 withdrawal
• UK and European economic and diplomatic updates
✨ Plus: Spotlight on Nigerian-American entrepreneur John Imah, building a $1.5B AI fashion-tech company.
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2026 UTME: JAMB Calls For Calm As Exam Disruptions Persist.
As the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) exercise enters day 2, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has assured candidates whose examinations were disrupted that they would be rescheduled to write them at a later date.
Public Communication Advisor of JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin stated this during the The Senate Committee on Tertiary Education monitoring of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Abuja on Friday.
Benjamin was responding to questions raised by disgruntled parents and candidates whose examinations were disrupted at the Good Success Computer Based Test (CBT) Center, Utako
On his part, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Mohammed Dandutse agreed that JAMB and CBT centers were faced with a lot of challenges but promised
to resolve them.
“From what we have seen, we have seen progress and we have seen a lot of challenges faced by the centres.
“And this one is not only in Abuja, it’s throughout the country. As a matter of fact, we sincerely appreciate what we have seen so far. Because the other issue is a technical issue, it happened yesterday and it also happened today, which was explained by the supervisor. But the truth of the matter, it has been a constraint to JAMB because these issues need to be addressed even before the exam takes place.
“As senators who are solely responsible for oversight and investigating the matters arising to this JAMB exam, I think we are going to look into how best JAMB will improve in most of the activities.
“We have already instructed them and told them to, as a matter of urgency, to take a definitive action so that the student will write the exam. And at the same time, we are going to review all the activities in JAMB so that we can make sure that these things do not happened again.
“So definitely we are going to address it and we are going to make sure that all the CBT centers are well functional and efficient. Because there is no moral justification for somebody to come from far away and will be living in trauma without writing the exam”, he said.
JAMB Spokesperson however maintained that the glitches were expected:
“Naturally, you should have one or two challenges here and there. It is not unusual and I don’t think there is anybody that will condone the exam using one thousand centers and then you expect that you won’t have any problem. But the most important thing is that if this problem do occur, are you prepared to handle them? And that is what we have just done there.
“That all those candidates will be rescheduled to another date, another center where they will sit the examination. It is natural to have a problem.
“As Nigerians, as citizens, that at least they are paying us with public funds, we are using public funds, they will expect 100%. But we know as operators that it is not easy, it is not possible for you to give 100%.
“But by the time you score 90%, at least you should have a term of. But for the candidate that have gone there, used the whole hours and sat inside the hall and then they didn’t take the exam, it is expected that they should vent their frustration. But it is natural”, he said.
Benjamin however, reassured that the Board would do the needful:
“We are assuring all Nigerians that every candidate who have registered for this exam will be given the opportunity to sit this exam. If your center fails today, you will be rescheduled again to take the exam. For any reason, even when you are rescheduled, and for any reason again, you are unable to sit the examination, you will be rescheduled again.
“That is why when we finish the exam, we have what we call the mop-up. The mop-up is to ensure that candidates whose center failed and they could not take the exam, we mop them up, give them a particular date for them to sit the examination. Because it’s a contract we have entered with them, they must sit the examination.
“But we’ll continue to do our best to ensure that we have minimal failure of these centers. And that is what we are doing. Out of 957 that we are using for this examination, I’m not sure we’ve had up to 10 or 8 centers that have failed”, he added.
Late Afrobeat Pioneer, Fela Earns Historic Global Recognition.
Late Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, has been inducted into the prestigious Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, becoming the first Nigerian artist to receive the honor.
Naija News reports that the announcement marks another major global recognition for the iconic musician, decades after his passing.
Fela was inducted under the “Early Influence” category, alongside renowned global music figures such as Queen Latifah, Celia Cruz, MC Lyte, and Gram Parsons.
The list of inductees was unveiled in the United States during a live broadcast of the popular television show, American Idol.
Also recognized is Nigerian-born British singer, Sade Adu, who will be inducted in the “Performer” category.
She joins a lineup of global stars including Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan.
Despite stiff competition, several high-profile nominees failed to make the final list. These include Shakira, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, New Edition, and Pink.
Organizers disclosed that over 1,200 artists, historians, and music industry professionals participated in the voting process.
The induction ceremony is scheduled to take place on November 14 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
Fela’s latest recognition comes just months after he made history in January as the first African musician to receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
The honor, coming nearly 30 years after his death, further cements his legacy as a global music icon and pioneer of Afrobeat.
It also follows the introduction of the Best African Performance category at the Grammy Awards two years ago, reflecting growing global recognition for African music.
Diaspora Watch – Vol. 88
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