FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

July 7, 2023

MEDIA CONTACT: 

e: brian.phillips@mail.house.gov

c: 202.913.0126

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government Conference and her role in Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ bipartisan Congressional delegation to Trinidad and Tobago:

“As a daughter of Jamaican immigrants, I was proud to join Democratic Leader Jeffries’ bipartisan Congressional delegation to Trinidad and Tobago. During our visit, the delegation met with Caribbean leaders, including Prime Minister Motley of Barbados and Prime Minister Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago to engage on a wide range of critical economic and geopolitical issues. We made clear that it is critical that we reinforce the strong alliance between the United States and our Caribbean neighbors and build upon the dedication shown by the Biden-Harris administration to the region,” said Congresswoman Clarke.

“I would also like to thank Secretary of State Antony Blinken for joining us to participate in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government Conference upon the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the organization. This trip served as a fitting opportunity to celebrate, renew, look forward and enrich regional integration to achieve our common goals of peace, economic growth, and stability. Looking back at five decades of CARICOM, I feel a great sense of pride in how far we have come. And I look forward to the plethora of opportunity, prosperity, and resiliency that will come as we continue to implement solutions to the challenges we will face together.

CARICOM was established on 4 July 1973 with the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas by Founding Fathers, Prime Ministers Errol Barrow for Barbados; Forbes Burnham for Guyana; Michael Manley for Jamaica; and Dr. Eric Williams for Trinidad and Tobago to deepen regional integration. This year marks 50 years since the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas and the accomplishments of CARICOM, which is revered as the oldest surviving integration movement in the developing world.”

The Members of the delegation are:

Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Leader, U.S. House of Representatives

Rep. Amata Coleman Radewagen, Member, Committee on Veterans’ Affairs; Member, Natural Resources Committee; Member, Foreign Affairs Committee

Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee; Member, Committee on Financial Services

Rep. Steven Horsford, Chair, Congressional Black Caucus; Member, Financial Services Committee; Member, Armed Services Committee

Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, Member, Committee on Energy and Commerce; Member, Committee on Homeland Security

Rep. Joyce Beatty, Member, Committee on Financial Services

Rep. Joaquin Castro, Member, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Member, Foreign Affairs Committee

Photos of the Congressional delegation are available here.

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