October 2025

Statement | CARICOM Caucus of Ambassadors in support of the Adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution for a UN Support Office and Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in Haiti

By Afiya RayPress Release, pressreleaseNo Comments

“Only through urgent, collective action in the security domain, in support of Haiti, can the scourge of gang violence be arrested. This is a critical first step towards creating favourable conditions for elections, sustained delivery of humanitarian support and relief, the rebuilding of institutions and the laying of the foundation for the long-term economic development of Haiti.”

H.E. François Jackman, Permanent Representative of Barbados

CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana | Tuesday, 30 September 2025

Introduction: I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the fourteen (14) Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

CARICOM applauds the resounding support of world leaders for the urgent and united action towards the restoration of peace and stability in Haiti, echoed throughout the recently concluded General Debate of the 80th session of the General Assembly. These critical objectives can only be achieved if security is restored in Haiti.

In that regard, we wholeheartedly welcome the Security Council’s adoption today of this Resolution as a fundamental step that responds to the urgency of the security situation in Haiti. And we thank the co penholders for their leadership.

CARICOM in particular welcomes the timely transition of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to a Gang Suppression Force (GSF) with a UN-authorized mandate to bring an immediate end to violence and to restore public safety in Haiti.

Furthermore, CARICOM endorses the establishment of a UN Support Office in Haiti to provide the necessary logistical and administrative support for this robust Force. Finally, we underscore the need to ensure sustainable, predictable resourcing of the Gang Suppression Force by all international partners. And we also renew our call for the urgent capitalisation of the 2025 humanitarian needs and response plan for Haiti.

Only through urgent, collective action in the security domain, in support of Haiti, can the scourge of gang violence be arrested. This is a critical first step towards creating favourable conditions for elections, sustained delivery of humanitarian support and relief, the rebuilding of institutions and the laying of the foundation for the long-term economic development of Haiti.

In closing, CARICOM reaffirms its solidarity with Haiti as well as our openness and willingness to work with all members of the Security Council to provide the necessary support for the Haitian people, and we look to the wider international community to step up its support boldly and with resolve to end the violence and suffering that the people of Haiti have endured for too long.

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About CARICOM:

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was established on 4 July 1973 with the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which was revised in 2001 to allow for the establishment of a single market and economy. CARICOM comprises fifteen Member States and six Associate Members and is home to approximately sixteen million citizens, 60% of whom are under 30 years old. CARICOM’s work rests on four main pillars: economic integration; foreign policy coordination; human and social development; and security cooperation.

The members of CARICOM work together to create a Community that is integrated, inclusive and resilient; driven by knowledge, excellence, innovation and productivity; a Community which is a unified and competitive force in the global arena, where every citizen is secure and has the opportunity to realise his or her potential with guaranteed human rights and social justice, and contributes to, and shares in, its economic, social and cultural prosperity.

CARICOM remains one of the best examples of integration in the developing world.

The CARICOM Secretariat, the principal administrative organ of the Community, is headquartered in Georgetown, Guyana.

October 3, 2025

CPSO Welcomes The Commencement of Full Free Movement Among Four CSME Member States

By Afiya RayPress Release, pressreleaseNo Comments

Bridgetown, Barbados – The CARICOM Private Sector Organization (CPSO) welcomes the implementation of full free movement rights for nationals of Barbados, Belize, Dominica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Full free movement for these nationals comes into effect today, October 1st, 2025.

The implementation of full free movement represents a defining milestone in the realization of the CSME and brings tangible meaning to the vision of a borderless regional economy. Full free movement for all nationals of these countries will contribute to cross border enterprise and will facilitate the ease of doing business for the private sector, thereby strengthening intra-regional economic activity, competitiveness, and economic growth.

For the private sector, it signals a deeper commitment to a unified economic space where goods, services, capital and skilled labour move freely, enabling firms to scale, invest, and innovate more effectively across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Commenting on the official start of the regime, Dr. Patrick Antoine, CEO and Technical Director of the CPSO, stated:

“The regional private sector has long advocated for the removal of barriers to the free movement of people within our Region. This move by Barbados, Belize, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines demonstrates the kind of action-oriented leadership needed to make regional integration a lived reality for businesses, workers, and families.”.

Dr. Antoine further noted that as the first CSME Member States to implement full free movement, these four countries now have the opportunity to demonstrate how labour mobility can strengthen economic opportunity, deepen social cohesion and build long-term resilience.

The CPSO pledges to work closely with Governments, the CARICOM Secretariat and other stakeholders to support remaining the CARICOM Member States in their journey toward full free movement, fulfilling the vision of the Framers of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, and the aspirations of our people for a united, borderless Caribbean Community.

October 1, 2025