Saint Lucia today officially assumed the Chairmanship of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), with Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre beginning a six-month tenure that will focus on delivering meaningful results for the people of the Caribbean.
Under CARICOM’s system of rotating leadership, Saint Lucia will serve as Chair of the Community from July 1 to December 31, 2026. During this period, Prime Minister Pierre will preside over meetings of the Conference of Heads of Government and help shape the regional response to issues affecting the Community.
Assuming the Chairmanship at a time of global uncertainty, the Prime Minister said Caribbean leadership must remain rooted in service to the people.
“Leadership in this Community is not about ceremony; it is about service to the people of our Region.”
Caribbean countries continue to face rising living costs, economic uncertainty, food and nutrition security challenges, citizen security concerns and the growing effects of climate change. Saint Lucia’s Chairmanship will focus on practical regional action that delivers real benefits to the people of the Community.
Five priorities will guide Saint Lucia’s tenure: strengthening regional unity, advancing climate justice, championing reparatory justice, promoting economic renewal and ensuring that regional development creates opportunities for everyone.
The Prime Minister said Saint Lucia’s approach to the Chairmanship will reflect the same philosophy that guides his Administration, that the true measure of leadership is the positive difference it makes in people’s everyday lives. In that spirit, CARICOM’s success must be measured not only by the decisions it makes, but by the difference those decisions make in the lives of Caribbean people.
Climate justice will remain high on the regional agenda as Caribbean countries continue to advocate for fair access to climate financing, support for loss and damage, and stronger international action that recognises the unique vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States.
Saint Lucia will also use its Chairmanship to champion reparatory justice, recognising that the enduring effects of slavery, colonialism and the displacement of Indigenous peoples continue to shape the region’s development. During its tenure, the country will support the work of the CARICOM Reparations Commission while continuing the region’s call for acknowledgement, dialogue and meaningful action.
Economic renewal will also feature prominently, with a focus on expanding opportunities through the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), strengthening the digital economy, increasing regional food production, encouraging greater intra-regional trade and investment, and creating more opportunities through the free movement of Caribbean people.
Regional development, the Prime Minister said, must also create opportunities for young people, women, persons living with disabilities, Indigenous peoples and communities that have historically been left behind.
“The success of CARICOM must ultimately be measured by whether the people of this region feel the benefits of our integration in their daily lives.”
Saint Lucia’s Chairmanship begins just days before the island hosts the Fifty-First Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM from 5-8 July, 2026. Regional leaders will gather in Saint Lucia to discuss the Community’s most pressing priorities and agree on collective responses to shared challenges.
As Chair, Prime Minister Pierre promises to work closely with fellow Heads of Government to strengthen regional cooperation, build consensus on shared priorities and ensure that CARICOM continues to improve the lives of the people it serves.