PM Holness joins other Caribbean leaders in virtual talks with US VP Kamala Harris

Jamaica: Prime Minister Andrew Holness, along with other fourteen CARICOM heads of state, held virtual talks hosted by the Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris on Friday, April 29, 2022.

The discussion mainly revolved around climate change and the significance of climate resilience for small island nations. The meeting also featured how climate change affected these small nations.

Various Caribbean countries such as St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, and St Kitts and Nevis have participated in the virtual meeting and discussed several matters of concern. The leaders who participated in the meeting were Prime Minister Philip J Pierre, Prime Minister Gaston Browne, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, and Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris.

The discussion revolves around the topics whch are given below:

• Strengthening partnerships and Cooperation
• Issue of Climate Change
• Need to take climate- resilience in the small island nations
• Security Cooperation
• Health
• Energy Security
• Economy Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic

Further, Prime Minister Andrew Holness expressed pleasure after attending the virtual meeting. He noted, “Yesterday I attended a virtual meeting with United States Vice President Kamala Harris and fellow Caribbean Leaders as we continue to focus on our economic recovery in the aftermath, and indeed the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic.”

Outlining the key focused areas discussed in the meeting, PM Holness stated, “Other areas of discussion during the meeting were Security Cooperation and Climate Resilience and Energy Security.”

Meanwhile, US President Kamala Harris also tweeted to express pleasure by hosting a meeting with the 15 Caribbean leaders.

She exclaimed, “As a neighbour in the Western Hemisphere, the United States shares a common bond with the nations of the Caribbean. This afternoon I convened leaders of the Caribbean to strengthen our partnership around economic recovery, security, climate and energy.”

Prime Minister Holness also emphasized on climate resilience which are acutely needed for the small island nations in climate change.