CARICOM’s New Chair Vows People-first Agenda

Philip J. Pierre, prime minister of St. Lucia, takes over as Caribbean Community (CARICOM) chair on July 1, pledging to make regional integration tangible for ordinary citizens.

“Our people must see themselves in the regional agenda,” Pierre said in a statement. His six-month term runs through December 31.

He identified climate action, food security, digital transformation, trade, and labor mobility as core priorities. He also stressed that development and security are linked.

“Integration that our people cannot feel will not last,” Pierre said, urging member states to deepen cooperation amid global volatility. His tenure will be measured not by summitry, but by whether Caribbean households perceive real gains in jobs, education, and resilience.