Jamaica is set to assume the chairmanship of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on July 1, 2025, under the theme ‘People, Partnerships, Prosperity: Promoting a Secure and Sustainable Future’.
The announcement was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, during a briefing with the diplomatic corps at the Ministry’s offices in downtown Kingston on Tuesday, June 3.
Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, will take over leadership of the regional body from Prime Minister of Barbados, Hon. Mia Mottley. Dr. Holness will serve as chair until December 31, 2025, at which time he will hand over to Prime Minister of St. Kitts-Nevis, Hon. Terrance Drew.
As part of his tenure, Prime Minister Holness will host the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, which will convene CARICOM member states, associate members, regional bodies and special guests. The meeting will take place at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St. James, from July 6 to 8.
Senator Johnson Smith unveiled the official logo for the conference, which features Jamaica’s national bird—the hummingbird—alongside the colours of the Jamaican flag and CARICOM’s signature blue.
The Minister explained that Jamaica’s chairmanship theme “was chosen to ensure that we are able to address the challenges and opportunities of our time within the four pillars of our community – economic integration, human and social development, foreign policy coordination, and security.”
She emphasized that Jamaica aims to deepen regional collaboration to pursue shared developmental goals. “One particular area of focus for us will be security as we seek to increase focus on transnational organised crime, especially gangs, and how we enhance collaborative measures to tackle this widespread issue,” she said.
“While the plans form part of a long-term strategy, we anticipate that any immediate progress in this area will also contribute to the ongoing efforts to restore peace and stability in Haiti, and address their issues of heightened gang activity, which has exacerbated their multidimensional crisis,” she added.
A security technology expo will be staged alongside the 49th meeting, showcasing Jamaica’s advances in crime fighting. “We are taking the opportunity to showcase the significant strides made by Jamaica in crime fighting, thanks in large part to partnerships and to the strategic use of technology,” Senator Johnson Smith said.
The expo will be open to delegates and their technical teams, offering a platform for sharing tools and best practices.
In observance of CARICOM Day, the conference will be preceded by the 18th CARICOM Road Race on July 5. “Teams from across the region will be participating in this 10K or 5K run and walk, which is linked to the region’s continued promotion of healthy lifestyles among our population to tackle non-communicable diseases and promote health and wellness,” the Senator informed.
The race will be followed by the opening ceremony and welcome reception on July 6, hosted by Prime Minister Holness.
“On the 7th and 8th of July, our main business sessions will take place, and we will, in that context, deliberate on the important priorities of the region,” Johnson Smith stated.
Among the key agenda items for the closed sessions are implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), climate change and climate financing, food and nutrition security, regional security—including Haiti—transportation, education, digitalisation, telecommunications, population issues, and education transformation.
The key outcomes from the meeting will be shared with the public via a press conference following the conclusion of the closed sessions.
