Chairman Drew Advocates for Stronger Intra-Regional Commerce at CARICOM 50

Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, February 26, 2026 (PMO) — Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis and Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, has called for decisive action to remove barriers that impede economic progress within the region, emphasizing that opportunity across CARICOM must be enabled, not obstructed.

Delivering his feature address at the Opening Ceremony of the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government on February 24th, Prime Minister Drew underscored the urgency of modernizing regional systems to unlock growth and strengthen economic resilience.

“We owe it to our farmers, our entrepreneurs and our young innovators to ensure that regional opportunity is not obstructed by administrative hesitation,” the Chairman declared.

Dr. Drew emphasized that while CARICOM has made important strides in functional cooperation and economic coordination, inefficiencies and bureaucratic delays continue to hinder the full realization of intra-regional trade and enterprise development.

He called for modernization of agriculture, expanded investment in agri-processing, improved irrigation systems, and the removal of administrative barriers that slow the movement of agricultural goods and commercial products across borders. Prime Minister Drew stressed that food security must evolve into food sovereignty, and that regional value chains must be strengthened to reduce external dependency.

The Chairman further noted that intra-regional commerce remains below its potential and that the free circulation of goods, services, and opportunity is essential to deepening integration. “Trade is not merely an economic transaction. It is the circulation of opportunity”.

He underscored that regional development requires efficiency, predictability, and political will, adding that small states cannot afford hesitation when global markets are volatile and external pressures persist.

As the 50th Regular Meeting continues this week, leaders remain engaged in substantive discussions aimed at removing impediments to growth and building a more resilient, self-reliant regional economy.

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