PM Roosevelt Skerrit arrives in St Vincent to attend the 8th CELAC Summit

PM Roosevelt Skerrit arrived in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to participate in the 8^th summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). He landed on Thursday and received a warm welcome by the Foreign Affairs Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Keisal Peters. The Summit is scheduled to take place on Friday the 1^st of March at the Sandals Resort in Buccament Bay on the southwest coast of the island. PM Gaston Browne of Antigua, President da Silva of Brazil, PM Mottley of Barbados and President Castro of Honduras had also arrived early on the island for the summit.

At this event, the Honduran president will assume the pro tempore presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. Her presidency will span for one year; she is being handed the baton by the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves.

The main topics of discussion surround economic and trade integration, social development and poverty reduction, security and cooperation on border threats, climate change and environmental stability, and regional governance.

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CELAC emerged from the desire of Latin American and Caribbean nations to strengthen regional integration and cooperation, fostering a common voice on issues of shared interest. It aimed to move beyond existing sub-regional groupings like Mercosur and the Andean Community of Nations, creating a more inclusive forum for regional dialogue.

Since its inception, CELAC has facilitated dialogue and collaboration, promoted social development initiatives, and increased regional visibility. However, implementing agreed-upon actions, securing sustainable funding, and navigating diverse political and economic landscapes remain challenges. The summit was scheduled to initiate soon after the 46^th Community of Latin American and Caribbean States meeting ended, leading to several weeks of regional diplomacy and conventions. As of this point in time, CELAC consists of

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Dominica
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Jamaica
• Mexico
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Suriname
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Uruguay
• Venezuela