00:00Regional foreign ministers gathered in Paramaibo, Suriname for the 29th meeting of the CARICOM Council for Foreign and Community Relations,
00:10amid what leaders described as an increasing unstable global environment.
00:15Trinidad and Tobago was represented by Foreign Service Officer 5, Candice Shade, at the high-level meeting, which focused heavily
00:23on security, diplomacy, trade, and geopolitical uncertainty affecting the Caribbean.
00:28One of the meeting's major talking points was Haiti, where CARICOM ministers welcomed the ongoing political transition and renewed international
00:38security support aimed at combating gang violence and restoring stability ahead of the elections due later this year.
00:47Ministers also called for increased funding and full deployment of the UN-backed gang suppression force, warning that Haiti's worsening
00:56humanitarian crisis now includes more than 1.4 million displaced people.
01:01The council also addressed tensions involving Cuba, issuing a statement condemning long-standing economic sanctions and warning against any military
01:11aggressions toward the island.
01:13However, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana formally reserved their positions on that statement, a move likely to attract attention given
01:22this country's historically close ties with Cuba, particularly in healthcare, education, and regional cooperation.
01:28On the international front, CARICOM ministers pushed for stronger representation for small-island developing states within the United Nations, including
01:39support for a dedicated seat on the reformed UN Security Council.
01:43The meeting also explored expanding partnerships with Canada, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, Japan, and Singapore as CARICOM
01:54countries seek to diversify trade and investment opportunities amid global economic uncertainty.
02:00Energy security, food security, and climate resilience were also high on the agenda, with ministers warning that small Caribbean nations
02:10remain highly vulnerable to global shocks and shifting geopolitical alliances.
02:15The council further reaffirmed support for Guyana in its ongoing border controversy with Venezuela and for Belize in its territorial
02:24disputes involving Guatemala.
02:26The CARICOM foreign ministers are expected to continue discussions on regional coordination and foreign policy priorities at several upcoming international
02:36summits later this year.
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