GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The 15-member Caribbean Community (Caricom) grouping is observing Caricom-Africa Day on Wednesday noting that the historical and friendly relations between the region and African countries have been strengthening in recent years.

Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley, has suggested that Africa-Caricom Day should be celebrated on September 7, in recognition of the first-ever Africa-Caribbean Summit aimed at forging stronger social and economic ties between the two global communities

“Our relationship has been bolstered at the bilateral level, and within the framework of multilateral organisations such as the United Nations, the Commonwealth and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS),” Caricom Chairman and President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, said in a statement to mark the occasion.

He said regional leaders have had the opportunity to engage with Georges Pinto Chikoti, Secretary-General of the OACPS, earlier this year, “where we discussed a range of issues that are of strategic importance to the Caribbean and Africa.

“Moreover, our relationship has been bolstered by recent engagements between Heads of State and Governments of countries of the two regions. The first Caricom-Africa Summit held virtually in September last year, under the theme ‘Unity Across Continents and Oceans – Opportunity for Deepening Integration’ served to give impetus to our relationship. This is evidenced by today’s celebration, 7th September, as Caricom-Africa Day, one of the historic decisions made by that Summit,” Santokhi added.

He said as a further “concrete demonstration of our strengthening ties” there is now the possibility of “blossoming trade and economic relations which are given expression through various initiatives aimed at deepening relations between the African continent and Caricom”.

Santokhi recalled that last week, Barbados hosted the first AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum 2022 and at that event, representatives of both regions advanced discussions on the ways and means to promote trade and investment.

“The Caribbean Community looks forward to a strengthened trade and economic partnership with Africa in the years ahead.”

Santokhi said that in the current environment, marked by various unprecedented challenges, “we are compelled to strengthen cooperation across a range of fora to tackle issues on the global agenda and take coordinated positions and action in areas that matter most”.

He said these would include climate change, resilience, adaptation and natural disasters, the global financial system an issues relating to development financing, de-risking and ‘black-listing, migration, and the equitable and sustainable economic and social recovery from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“One of the best ways to do so is to speak with one voice in international fora where those issues are discussed,” Santokhi said, reiterating “Caricom’s commitment to the further strengthening and enhancement of the historical bonds of friendship, cooperation and solidarity which unite us”.