PM Andrew Holness to become CARICOM chair on July 1

Dr. Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, will officially assume the chairmanship of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on 1 July 2025. His tenure begins just days before Jamaica hosts the Forty-Ninth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, taking place from 6–8 July in Montego Bay.

Holness, who recently earned his Doctor of Law and Policy (a professional doctorate) from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, is stepping into the role during a pivotal year both regionally and nationally, with Jamaica expected to hold general elections in the coming months. As incoming Chair, he has signaled a strong focus on digital innovation, regional security, and inclusive growth. In a video message ahead of the Summit, Andrew Holness said the Caribbean must embrace the potential of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, as a means to boost economic growth, improve public safety, and enhance quality of life across the region. The meeting’s theme—People, Partnerships, Prosperity: Promoting a Secure and Sustainable Future—underscores the region’s push toward strategic integration and resilience. Referencing the Regional Digital Development Strategy, Holness emphasized the importance of digital literacy, cybersecurity, and innovative solutions to improve governance, healthcare, and education. “We will work to ensure that AI and other emerging technologies are harnessed in ways that align with our values, promoting inclusion, fairness, and data privacy,” he added. “This is not just about keeping pace with global trends, but moreso about empowering our people to compete and thrive in the digital age.” The official opening ceremony of the Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, 6 July at 5:00 p.m. at the Montego Bay Convention Centre. Remarks will be delivered by Holness and CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett. Heads of Government will then convene for two days of discussions on major regional priorities, including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), climate change, external trade negotiations, the crisis in Haiti, food and nutrition security, and preparations for the second Africa-CARICOM Summit. Topics such as regional transportation, telecommunications, tourism digitalisation, and industrial policy are also on the agenda. Ahead of the Meeting, on 5 July, CARICOM nationals will participate in the 18th CARICOM Road Races in Rose Hall, Montego Bay. Open to professional and amateur athletes, the event aims to promote regional camaraderie and the benefits of sport and physical wellness. Jamaica has hosted several historic CARICOM summits, including those in 1982, 1990, 1997, 2003, 2010, and 2018. Notably, the 2003 summit in Montego Bay produced the Rose Hall Declaration—a roadmap for modernising regional governance and deepening integration. Holness’s upcoming chairmanship continues that tradition of engagement, now with a digital and future-focused lens.