Suriname begins preparations for 2027 CARICOM chairmanship

Suriname has officially begun preparations for its chairmanship of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government, scheduled for the first half of 2027. President Jennifer Simons will hold the chairmanship from January 1 to June 30, 2027.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation Melvin Bouva has established both technical and policy committees to manage the transition. The technical committee will oversee logistics, security, and protocol, while the policy committee will handle the agenda and official proceedings. These groups are also preparing for the 52nd Regular Meeting of the Conference, which is set to take place in Paramaribo from February 16 to 19, 2027.

Minister Bouva outlined four strategic priorities for the chairmanship: food security, energy security, connectivity, and regional integration. Regarding food security, Suriname intends to collaborate with Guyana to leverage their combined agricultural potential to supply the region. Energy security efforts will focus on reducing external dependency by integrating oil and gas reserves with solar and wind energy. Connectivity goals include improving land, water, and air links to boost trade and tourism. Finally, regional integration efforts will include placing artificial intelligence on the regional agenda to improve healthcare, education, and services.