The just-concluded 46 th Heads of Government Meeting of the Caribbean
Community, CARICOM, issued a number of special invitations to heads of state
and other dignitaries and officials.
Among them was the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Luiz Inácio
Lula da Silva. The Brazilian president held one-on-one meetings with several
Caribbean leaders, one of whom was the Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister,
Gaston Browne.
Prime Minister Browne remarked on Brazil’s efforts to end hunger throughout the
Americas. The Prime Minister noted the global leadership of President Lula who
he lauded for lifting many Brazilians out of poverty and reducing inequality. He
also requested that Brazil use its position within the G20 to advocate on behalf of
CARICOM Member States in the area of climate change, access to concessional
financing and the plight of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The Prime Minister further suggested that CARICOM and Brazil establish an
effective trade and investment framework to enhance cooperation between Brazil
and the region. He further suggested that significant trade between Brazil and the
region could lead to the reduction of cost of living for CARICOM States.
He thanked Brazil for its support for the establishment of a global Loss and
Damage Fund, which will to help developing countries cope with the effects of
climate change. Prime Minister Browne also took the opportunity to extend an
invitation for President Lula to attend the 4th International Conference on Small
Island Developing States, scheduled for 27 to 30 May, 2024 in St. Johns, Antigua.
