by Linda Straker
- Tevin Andrews went to Canada for Grenada’s independence activities
- Williams attended independence gala in New York and then travelled to Dubai
- WGS topics include Emerging Global Influence, Government Efficiency, Financing the Future, Leadership Strategy and Global Trade and Economy
Minister Andy Williams, who has the ministerial portfolios of Mobilisation, Implementation and Transformation, is among the participants attending the 2025 World Governments Summit (WGS) in Dubai from 11–13 February. He travelled to the summit after attending the annual independence gala in New York.
House Speaker Leo Cato announced during the special House sitting on 11 February that both Williams and Tevin Andrews were unable to attend because they were away on state business.
Cato did not share details, but Press Secretary Neila Ettienne later confirmed that Andrews went to Canada for Grenada’s independence activities while Williams was in Dubai attending the summit. “Minister Williams is attending the World Governments Summit in Dubai,” she responded to inquiries submitted via WhatsApp message.
Internet research revealed that the summit is organised by the World Governments Summit Organisation, a global, neutral, non-profit organisation dedicated to shaping the future of governments. “Through its events, dialogues, and other engagements, the organisation explores the agenda of a new era of governance, focusing on harnessing innovation and technology to solve the universal challenges facing humanity. Since its inception, the summit has successfully established a new model for international collaboration to empower and enable the next generation of governments,” according to the summit’s “About” page.
The page also explained that the World Governments Summit was established in 2013 under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai.
“Since then, the organisation and its leadership have continued to champion the mission of shaping future governments and creating a better future for humanity. Working together with its community of partners and members, the Summit has successfully established a new model for international collaboration to inspire and enable the next generation of governments,” said the website. “At the World Governments Summit, our community is built on collaboration, innovation, and a shared vision of a better future. It is made up of strategic partners and engaged members who are committed to driving change and making a global impact.”
The 9th Arab Fiscal Forum, a pre-summit jointly organised by the Ministry of Finance, the Arab Monetary Fund and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), brought together Arab finance ministers, economists, and officials from international and regional financial institutions to explore ways to strengthen public finance resilience amid global economic challenges.
The discussions focused on designing efficient and equitable fiscal policies to address debt vulnerabilities and future challenges amid tighter financing constraints. Key topics include subsidy reforms, tax administration, and public sector enterprise reforms.
Some of the topics for the 2025 summit include Emerging Global Influence, Government Efficiency, Financing the Future, Leadership Strategy and Global Trade and Economy.
Speakers will include Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla; Ngozi Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO); and Delma Rousseff of New Development Bank.
