St Vincent becomes 4th CARICOM nation to host CELAC summit

The 8th CELAC Summit will take place next week in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, marking a significant moment for the region. This historical event will further strengthen regional integration within CELAC.

Post the conclusion of the CARICOM Heads Meeting, Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew and a section of his delegation will travel to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for the 8th Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Summit which has been scheduled for March 1, 2024, it is to be held at the Sandals Resort in Buccament.

The summit in St Vincent will bring together heads of state and government from across Latin America and the Caribbean, along with representatives from international organizations and notable guests. CELAC was proposed on February 23, 2010, at the Rio Group–Caribbean Community Unity Summit. The organization was officially established on December 3, 2011, with the signing of the Declaration of Caracas.

CELAC serves as a platform for political dialogue, economic integration, and cooperation among 33 Latin American and Caribbean countries. CELAC does this by hosting regular summits for government heads to convene and discuss regional issues and strategies to counter them, they also execute ministerial meetings to tackle more specific threats and engage in dialogue with international partners to foster further cooperation, harmony and address global issues through economic plans and diplomacy.

CELAC has focused heavily on food security by adopting the “CELAC Plan for Food and Nutrition Security and Hunger Eradication 2030” to tackle food insecurity in the region. Climate change and disaster risk reduction initiatives are also facilitated by the organization.

The summit’s leadership will comprise Senator Keisal M. Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister and Pro Tempore President of CELAC; and Dr. Douglas W. Slater, National Coordinator and Head of the CELAC Presidential Secretariat.

The outcomes of the 8th CELAC Summit have the potential to shape the future trajectory of the region. By fostering collaboration and collective action on critical issues, CELAC can empower its member states to navigate shared challenges and build a more prosperous and sustainable future for all citizens of Latin America and the Caribbean. The opening ceremony will be followed by plenary sessions and concludes with a media briefing.