KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator Matthew Samuda, is representing Prime Minister Andrew Holness at the First Caricom Regional Heads of Government Meeting, in preparation for COP27.

The meeting is being hosted by Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Phillip E Davis, in Nassau, Bahamas, from August 16 to18, 2022 with support from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat.

Also in attendance will be Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt and United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) President-designate, H E Sameh Shoukry, and key heads of government.

The three-day meeting is expected to bring together international finance partners and relevant stakeholders for clear and frank discussions on mitigation, adaptation and means of implementation provided for under the Paris Agreement, with a view to supporting people and livelihoods of big ocean-states in the Caribbean region.

Samuda noted that this is a very useful setting for regional leaders to formulate a unified direction going into COP27, which will address climate vulnerabilities and build on resilience.

“Jamaica remains a leader in climate change globally, and the meeting offers and opportunity to: hear from the incoming COP27 Presidency on their priorities for the COP in Sharm El-Sheik; underscore Jamaica’s commitment to the multilateral climate change process, including as a member of the Alliance of Small Island States negotiating bloc; and highlight the country’s priority areas,” Samuda said.

The first two days will cover matters on adaptation, mitigation, support and cross-cutting issues. The third day will see Prime Minister Davis hosting a special meeting featuring the Bahamas Government Initiative on Climate Financing.