Remarks | Dr. The Hon. Godwin Friday | Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 50 HGC | Opening Ceremony

Greetings, everyone, from the wonderful people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. I am delighted to be here at this vitally important event at such a critical time for our Region.

As you know, we recently (on November 27^th2025) had general elections in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and a new government, of the New Democratic Party was elected, the first change of government in almost 25 years! The people gave us a clear mandate to govern, and so here I am.

As a new head of government, a new face at this Conference, I may have much to learn about the way things are done in this body and across the other organs of CARICOM, and about how perennial issues have been addressed over the years and where they stand now. But I hope being new on the stage, I am unfettered by the trials and frustrations of the past and might bring some small insight or added motivation that might help us to move forward.

It seems to me that any serious consideration of the subject of regional integration and CARICOM’s place in it begins with a familiar lament about the agonizingly slow pace of forward movement and the illusiveness of unity and collective action, especially in international affairs.

Over the years, we have come to near breaking points, “words” have been exchanged among leaders, meetings have failed or even failed to take place because of inability to agree on critical matters, or lack of will. And for that, we are mocked as being more “Carigone” than CARICOM. Yet here we are. CARICOM survives; the spirit of regional integration persists and indeed grows and other countries seek full membership or Associate status.

Consider that despite all the tensions and problems over the years from the Closer Union Conference of 1949 in Jamaica, through the ill-fated West Indian Federation a decade later, then CARIFTA and ultimately our much maligned but still beloved CARICOM, the integration spirit has endured. And those who ask why, the answer is simple: because we need it! And we all know this.

We may complain and fight among ourselves, but meanwhile we continue to support and reshape it. We remain ever-hopeful that it will become more able to address our needs. We do this not only because of the ties of a common history and a shared culture, but fundamentally because we all recognise that inescapable fact: we need it. If the OECS and CARICOM (or similar organisations) were not around today, we would feel their absence and set about working to create them.

Thankfully, CARICOM remains. But, now more than ever, we are being tested. We are challenged from inside and out, the world around us grows more perilous daily. International rules and practices that we have become used to over the years have changed in troubling ways that call upon us to look to one another for support. Where we thought we could safely rely on familiar rules of the road, we must now tread cautiously and maneuver as best we can to advance our individual and collective interests.

Friends, our persistence on the path of regionalism, no matter the challenges, is the best way. Let us strengthen our resolve about that.

As I intimated above, I am committed to working alongside all of you, not merely out of sentimentalism but also because there is no better alternative for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and indeed for all of us. In the current global realities, we need each other more than ever. If we do not continue to strive together, and pool our limited power and resources, we cannot hope to withstand the increasing political and economic headwinds and deliver better living standards for our people.

That is the central value of our integration movement, the reason we make such an effort just to be here. Through CARICOM, we are collectively better able to stake our claim in this evolving world. Let us never be so discouraged by our shortcomings that we fail to see just how much we have accomplished over the years. While we must do better, let us acknowledge that we have done a lot together. Indeed, let us shout about it so that not only technocrats in government offices across the Region, but ordinary citizens too would know about each step forward, big or small. This would enhance the credibility and relevance of the organisation in our respective countries.

Clearly, we must do a better job of engaging our people in the affairs of CARICOM. What we do here and in other forums must not only be about them, but also with them for that is where our strength truly lies. Sometimes, we question our purpose. But let us resolve that when there are doubts, they be only about how and never about whether we go forward. And then we can confidently work together on the real issues confronting our people: eliminating poverty and creating prosperity; removing obstacles to commerce, including currency-related ones; closing the skills gap in our workforce to meet the needs of our economies and promote employment; confronting climate change and resilience financing; and promoting peace and security in Haiti and our Region.

Friends, thank you for welcoming me so warmly in this Conference. I look forward to working with you. But, please let us quicken the pace. The road ahead may be arduous and full of obstacles, but it is a viable path, made even more certain when we decide to walk together. When we hold our neighbour’s hand now, we make the journey easier and safer for those who follow. Thank you and God bless. I pray we have a successful meeting.

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