Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada, will meet with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders during their 31st inter-sessional summit in Barbados next week Tuesday, the Guyana-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat has confirmed.

It said that Trudeau will meet with the leaders of the 15-member regional grouping on the first day of their two-day summit that will be held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on the outskirts of the capital. He is also scheduled to hold bi-lateral discussions with the CARICOM chairman and the host Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

“Canada and Caribbean countries have always had strong relationships and almost one million people of Caribbean descent live in Canada. These relationships are based on shared values and partnerships in the fight against climate change, the promotion of democracy, trade, economic growth, and security. I look forward to meeting the leaders of CARICOM to discuss how we can work together to strengthen the Caribbean and build a better world,” Trudeau said.

New audience

Ottawa said that the visit is to allow him to make his pitch to a new audience regarding Canada’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council.

It said that while Trudeau is expected to talk to Caribbean leaders about climate change, given the region’s particular vulnerabilities to its impacts.

The visit to the Caribbean follows a week-long visit to Africa and Europe where he is attempting to lock down votes for a seat at the Security Council table from those countries.

Canada, Norway and Ireland are the three countries vying for two seats available to Western European countries and Canada. The winner will occupy the seat for two years.

Canada last sat on the Security Council in 2000 and lost its last bid for a seat in 2010.