by Linda Straker
- Upper House sitting of 1 July 2025 observed by Ambassador Karen Tan
- Appointed as Singapore’s Ambassador to Caricom in 2018
- Singapore actively engages with Caricom through various initiatives
The Sitting of the Senate or Upper House on 1 July 2025 was observed by strangers in the gallery and also by Ambassador Karen Tan, Singapore’s Ambassador to Caricom and Grenada.
Dessima Williams, President of the Senate, informed the House about the presence of Ambassador Tan, whom she described as a close friend. “Thank you for coming, Ambassador Tan and thanks to Singapore for its relations with our country,” Williams said while acknowledging the presence of the ambassador as she made announcements to Senate members.
Ambassador Tan is on a short visit to Caricom. She was appointed as Singapore’s Ambassador to Caricom in 2018 and has visited several countries since taking up the post. At the time of presenting her credentials to the then Secretary-General of Caricom, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque said her appointment represented Singapore’s commitment to “continue to work to sustain and deepen” its engagement with the region, and to find new avenues for cooperation.
Singapore has been actively engaging with Caricom through various mechanisms, including the Caricom Secretariat, and various international fora. Singapore and Caricom share strong and growing bilateral relations, particularly as both are small states with shared interests in international fora.
They have collaborated on issues like climate change, human rights, and global governance, leveraging their collective voice as small nations. Singapore actively engages with Caricom through various initiatives and has expressed a desire to deepen cooperation further.
