By Canadian Press

Caribbean leaders meeting in Ottawa to talk climate, trade and instability in Haiti

Oct 18, 2023 | 9:27 AM

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeauhas welcomed a dozen leaders from across the Caribbean to Ottawa, as part of a two-day summit aimed at forming closer ties with Canada.

The Caribbean Community includes 15 countries and five overseas territories, spanning from Bahamas to Trinidad and Tobago, but not including Cuba.

Heads of government from across the CARICOM group began the day with a morning meeting focused on fighting climate change, green growth and biodiversity.

Next on the schedule is a midday discussion on the reform of global financial institutions, aimed at helping smaller states pay for infrastructure that mitigates natural disasters.

In the afternoon, the leaders are set to discuss the political and humanitarian crises in Haiti, in the hopes of ending brazen gang violence that threatens to spread through the region.

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Trudeau is also expected to meet individually with many leaders between these sessions.

On Thursday, the leaders are expected to take part in a trade and investment roundtable, ahead of an afternoon press conference.

The meetings mark the first visit to Canada by Haitian prime minister Ariel Henry since August 2021, when he assumed the role without having been elected, following the assassination of the country’s president.

Trudeau is pressuring Henry to work with his political opponents, with his office releasing a statement that touches on “the urgent need for a power-sharing agreement between Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and opposition groups.”

This month, the UN Security Council approved a Kenya-led multinational military intervention to clear out gangs that have committed brazen violence and blocked access to essentials.

Trudeau’s office said Wednesday’s session aims to ensure Haiti has stability when that mission ends, by having other Caribbean states and Canada help the country establish effective policing and fight corruption.

The summit comes at a time when smaller states are grappling to economically recover from effects of the COVID-19 pandemic while being walloped by natural disasters made worse by climate change.

It also comes as Canada seeks votes for its bid to join the UN Human Rights Council.

Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said the Canadians are long-standing partners of Caribbean states.

“Our region has traditionally relied on Canada’s advocacy to highlight our challenges and realities, and promote our interests in international fora where we don’t have a voice,” he said at the opening of the summit.

Trudeau said Canada sees these countries as partners in a turbulent world.

“It is now more clear than ever that economic policy is security policy, is climate policy, is social policy — everything is interconnected,” he said.

“These are serious, consequential times. As strategic partners, as friends, if we want to protect our people, if we want to deliver for our citizens, we have to work together.”

Also attending Wednesday’s meetings is Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who co-chairs a United Nations advocacy group for the Sustainable Development Goals along with Trudeau.

Trudeau has also welcomed leaders from Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname as well as Trinidad and Tobago.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 18, 2023.

Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press