Addis ababa: The Second Africa-CARICOM Summit in Addis Ababa represents a historic milestone in advancing cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean, particularly in trade, health, and reparations, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Carla Barnett, underscored.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the Second Africa-CARICOM Summit will be held on Sunday, bringing together CARICOM Heads of State and Government, African counterparts, and representatives from the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African and Caribbean Development Banks, and Afreximbank.
The Summit is organized under the theme ‘Transcontinental Partnership in Pursuit of Reparatory Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.’
In an exclusive interview with ENA today, Secretary-General of CARICOM, Carla Barnett, emphasized that the gathering is ‘a meeting whose time has come,’ highlighting that the inaugural 2021 summit was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Barnett noted that Afreximbank has increased its presence in the region and is considering establishing a headquarters in Barbados, along with trade and investment meetings in four Caribbean countries.
She highlighted that health collaboration has expanded, facilitating the organization of the first-ever joint meeting of African and Caribbean health ministers.
Barnett emphasized the importance of working together in areas defined as beneficial for both African and Caribbean regions.
On reparations, Barnett pointed out the regions’ shared history of slavery and colonial exploitation, stating that a significant portion of the Caribbean population descends from Africans transported as slaves across the Atlantic Ocean.
She elaborated that the colonial experience in both the Caribbean and Africa has contributed to lagging development compared to the developed world.
Barnett stated that seeking reparations involves confronting the reality of an outstanding debt and that the conversation is now addressing how shared history has impacted health, education, and economic development.
The Secretary-General praised Ethiopia’s hospitality in hosting the Summit and acknowledged the collaboration between the Ethiopian government, the African Union Commission, and the CARICOM Secretariat in making the summit a reality.
Barnett expressed optimism that the Addis Ababa deliberations will be dynamic and meaningful, reaching agreements to ensure continued action to bring Africa and the Caribbean closer together.