by Linda Straker
- CELAC summit is a one-day event leading to formulation of a declaration
- Andall will be accompanied by foreign service officer to represent Grenada
- Andall recently accompanied Prime Minister Mitchell to Caricom Heads of Government Conference in Guyana
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Development Joseph Andall will be Grenada’s representative at the 8th Summit for the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), to be held on 1 March 2024 at the Sandals Resort, Buccament, St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Neila Ettienne, Press Secretary, in response to an email inquiring about Grenada’s participation in the Summit, said Minister Andall would attend the CELAC meeting in St Vincent from 29 February–1 March, accompanied by a foreign service officer with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Andall accompanied Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell to the 46th Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community in Guyana from 25–28 February 2024.
In January 2023, St Vincent and the Grenadines was elected to the presidency of CELAC. As President Pro-Tempore and Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves is expected to welcome 32 Heads of State and Government, accompanied by their respective delegations.
The summit is a one-day event focusing on discussions leading to the formulation of a declaration. The VIII CELAC Summit is expected to be the largest and most significant diplomatic gathering ever hosted in St Vincent and the Grenadines. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and a delegation will be among 400 diplomats and Heads of State at the summit.
This gathering will place significant emphasis on pivotal regional issues, including food and nutrition security, advancements in regional transportation, climate change mitigation, and the crucial aspect of climate financing. Moreover, global and hemispheric affairs, particularly developments in the Middle East, will also feature prominently on the agenda.
Among the key topics slated for discussion during the meeting are the ongoing challenges in Haiti and the progress update on the decision to facilitate free movement for all Caribbean Community nationals.
St Vincent and the Grenadines will also hand over leadership of the Pro Tempore Presidency to incoming President, Honduras.
The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States is a regional bloc of Latin American and Caribbean states created on 3 December 2011, in Caracas, Venezuela, with the signature of The Declaration of Caracas. It consists of 33 sovereign countries in the Americas representing roughly 600 million people. According to its website, CELAC was created to deepen Latin American integration and by some to reduce the significant influence of the United States on the politics and economics of Latin America.
