Barbados Welcomes Outcomes Of The X CELAC Summit And CELAC–Africa Forum

Countries within the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) must recognise the importance of sustaining momentum in areas such as climate action, the reform of global financial systems, and sustainable development, to better support vulnerable and developing countries.

Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM, David Comissiong, expressed this view at the Tenth Summit of the CELAC, held from March 18 to 21, in Bogota, Colombia.

This high-level forum, which demonstrates a shared understanding that closer cooperation between the two regions is essential in responding to today’s increasingly complex global challenges, brings together countries from across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa.

Ambassador Comissiong also delivered remarks at the CELAC–Africa Forum, which ran concurrently with the Summit, and emphasised the steady progress CARICOM has made in strengthening ties with Africa.  He noted that the Africa–CARICOM Heads of Government Summits of 2021 and 2025 were key milestones in building a structured and purposeful partnership.

The Barbados Government welcomed the adoption of the Bogotá Declaration on March 21, which represents a shared commitment of Latin American and Caribbean governments to work together towards fairer global systems, sustainable development, and strengthened climate action.

The Declaration, which was also endorsed by CELAC leaders, called for continued advocacy for fairer and more responsive financial systems through improved access to affordable, long-term financing; greater flexibility in financial instruments; and the use of innovative approaches such as: the revision of debt sustainability analysis frameworks, debt swaps and other mechanisms that promote sustainable public-private investments.

These commitments align closely with Barbados’ long-standing appeal for meaningful reform of the global financial architecture.  The country remains committed to working with its partners to build on the progress made at these meetings and to ensuring that the ideas and commitments advanced are translated into real, tangible benefits for the people of the Caribbean and the wider Global South. (PR/GIS)