VI @ CARICOM meeting to ensure its voice ‘is both heard & supported'- Premier




The Opening Ceremony was a vibrant showcase of Jamaica’s cultural excellence and national pride, featuring performances by some of the country’s most celebrated artists and creatives. All 21 CARICOM Member States and Associate Members were represented, each bringing both gravitas and pageantry to the event.
‘Strategic opportunity for VI’- Premier
Virgin Islands Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) is actively participating in plenary discussions scheduled throughout the summit.
In remarks prior to the formal sessions, Premier Wheatley noted that the CARICOM meeting “is a strategic opportunity for the Virgin Islands to deepen regional alliances and advance critical national interests.
“Tackling transnational crime and organised crime in the region to addressing environmental vulnerabilities, we are here to ensure the Virgin Islands’ voice is both heard and supported,” Premier Wheatley stated in a Government Information Service (GIS) press release.
Deeper regional integration & solidarity
Meanwhile, The Honourable Mia A. Mottley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Barbados and outgoing chair of Caricom, addressed the gathering, passionately calling for deeper integration and solidarity across the region. Prime Minister Mottley emphasised the urgent need to bridge gaps between member states in order to confront the evolving global landscape as a unified Caribbean bloc.
Incoming Caricom Chairman and host Prime Minister, Dr the Honourable Andrew M. Holness of Jamaica, systematically outlined the priorities he hoped to advance over the next 6 months. He addressed a range of critical challenges with a strong focus on public safety.
Prime Minister Holness also underscored the urgent need to dismantle criminal gang networks across Caribbean territories and spoke to the importance of regional cooperation on climate resilience, food security, and economic sustainability.
The 49th Regular Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government runs from July 6–8, 2025, and will feature a packed agenda aimed at delivering real solutions to the region’s shared challenges.


9 Responses to “VI @ CARICOM meeting to ensure its voice ‘is both heard & supported'- Premier”
POIN
The comment pretty much shines a light on how our leaders are behaving in their blind pursuit to Independence, so they can rule this much diminished Territory, without guardrails to protect the VI people from corruption and abuse of power.
None of the politicians in the Caribbean care about their people they only care about power. That’s why the greedy bill must be repealed.