By: Philip J. Pierre
September 11, 2026
On behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), I extend warm greetings to the Governments and people of the African Union, CARICOM and the wider African Diaspora as we mark the fifth anniversary of CARICOM–Africa Day. This historic milestone reaffirms our shared commitment to a unified vision for a forward-looking partnership and strategic cooperation for our two regions.
Since Heads of State and Government moved to establish this annual observance at the First CARICOM-Africa Summit in 2021, our bonds have strengthened significantly. The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the CARICOM and the African Union (AU) Secretariats on 26 September 2024 marked a pivotal step in deepening inter-secretariat cooperation . Concurrently, our Member States have expanded bilateral engagement through partnerships with institutions such as Afreximbank, whose Caribbean office continues to catalyse financing for infrastructure, small businesses, and trade. We have also advanced joint initiatives in health services and air connectivity to unlock commercial trade, tourism, and direct people-to-people exchanges.
As we observe the Second International Decade for People of African Descent and uphold the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of People of African Descent, we honour the resilience of our ancestors and pay tribute to those lost to the atrocities of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. CARICOM continues to play a significant leadership role in the global campaign for reparatory justice, working hand in hand with continental partners, who have embraced and advanced this critical cause for repair and diasporic unity.
In the face of compounded global challenges, including climate-induced natural disasters and geopolitical instability, our regions must leverage a collective voice to advocate for sustainable development, climate resilience, and the interests of vulnerable states. CARICOM remains steadfast in its commitment to regional solidarity, sovereignty, and self-determination.
The people of the Caribbean Community are vital constituents of the African Union’s Sixth Region, and our deepening alliance, as a model of South-South cooperation, seeks to deliver practical, measurable benefits, opening new horizons for youth, expanding markets for local enterprises, and reinforcing our collective resilience.
On behalf of the Caribbean Community, I extend best wishes for the continued well-being, progress, and prosperity of the African Union and the peoples of Africa as we fortify the fraternal ties that bind us.
(The author is the incoming CARICOM Chairman and Prime Minister of St Lucia)
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