CARICOM leaders to address UN General Assembly

SOURCE: CMC: CARICOM leaders are getting ready to debate this week in the 76^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has proved to be the most challenging period the world has seen since the Second World War.

A CARICOM diplomat revealed to Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that the pandemic will dominate the addresses during the hybrid debate.

Unlike last year, when global leaders participated virtually, the diplomat said the UN has given leaders the choice of participating virtually and in person.

It’s unclear which option Caricom leaders will adopt, as they begin their respective debates on Wednesday.

According to the General Assembly’s provisional list, Suriname’s Head of State, Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi will be the first regional leader to address the UNGA on Wednesday, with Guyana and Dominica on Thursday.

The leaders of Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Belize will address the General Assembly on Friday, with St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis, Haiti, the Bahamas, and Antigua and Barbuda will do so on Saturday.

Grenada will be the last CARICOM representative to address the debate on Monday, September 27.