CARICOM officials meet UNDP; finalizes plan of action

Several officials from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) interacted with officials from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the CARICOM headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana from March 4 to 6. The agenda was mapped to finalize a collaborative action plan for their partnership.

The diplomats created a 2024 Action Plan to bring into effect the CARICOM-UNDP Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which cites their aim to work towards the development of Small Island Development States (SIDS) from the Caribbean region.

The MOU, which was signed in September of 2022 highlights various capacities of cooperation on sustainable energy, governance, climate and disaster resilience, and appropriate management of natural resources. It further extends to economic development (including initiatives surrounding the Blue Economy), developmental finances, strengthening institutions, digital involvement with the youth, and public safety & security.

CARICOM Deputy Secretary General, Dr Armstrong Alexis, and Ms Linda Maguire, the UNDP’s Deputy Regional Director of the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (RBLA) collaborated to lead the meeting discussions.

The discussions highlighted CARICOM’s recent interest in developing an AI regulatory framework to defend creative industries, discuss ethical issues, better skill allocation amongst the general public, public education and so on.

Emphasis was also put on the immediate need to update the CARICOM energy policy post the new and growing oil producers in the region; sticking to the topic of energy, a portion of time was also dedicated to discussing strategies surrounding electric vehicles to ensure regulations and safeguards are in approximation of external policies such at the New emission standards set by Europe.

Dr Armstrong expressed appreciation for this collaboration specific to three elements, sustainable development, renewable energy, and citizens security. Reciprocating Dr Amstrong, Ms Maguire stated “The two organizations are powerful on their own, but it makes sense to do more together.”

The finalized 2024 action plan is expected to clarify a larger design for collaboration on these specific points of interest.