Guterres declares ‘trouble in paradise’ in support appeal for the Caribbean

"The exquisite beauty of the Caribbean is famed the world over. But there is trouble in paradise."

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres sounded the alarm in his address to Caribbean leaders gathered at the opening ceremony of the 48th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM on 19 February 2025 in Barbados.

From the ongoing socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to soaring debt and escalating extreme weather events, Guterres described a region beset by crises beyond its control and called for international solutions.

Against the backdrop of these compounding challenges, the CARICOM Summit is taking place at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in Bridgetown under the theme ‘Strength in Unity: Forging Caribbean Resilience, Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development’. Heads of State and Government are expected to address a range of issues, including food security, climate change, reparations for historical injustices and regional integration through the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

In his address, Guterres outlined three key areas where a unified Caribbean is crucial for progress:

Unity for Peace and Security

Guterres emphasised the urgent need to address the crisis in Haiti, where gang rule has inflicted immense suffering on the population. He said that he would soon report to the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Haiti, including proposals on the role the UN can play to support stability and security and address the root causes of the crisis. 

"It is my intention to present to the Security Council a proposal that is very similar to the one that we have presented for Somalia in which the UN assumes the responsibility of the structural and logistical expenditures that are necessary to put a force in place and the salaries of the force are paid through the trust fund that already exists. And if the Security Council will accept this proposal, we’ll have the conditions to finally have an effective force to defeat the gangs in Haiti and create the conditions for democracy to thrive."

He commended CARICOM's support and reiterated his call for a “political process – owned and led by the Haitians – that restores democratic institutions through elections.”

The Secretary-General also urged regional leaders to continue tackling the "weapons and drug trafficking that is fuelling violence across the Caribbean", even while appealing to "countries of origin and countries of destination" for stronger cooperation in waging this battle. 

Unity for Climate Action

Acknowledging the disproportionate impact of climate change on the Caribbean, Guterres stated, "You face a deplorable injustice: A crisis you have done next to nothing to create is wrecking economies, ruining lives, and threatening your very existence." 

He called for renewed commitment to limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and urged G20 countries to lead in the delivery of ambitious climate action plans. All member States adhering to the Paris Agreement are required to submit new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2025, aimed at mitigating and adapting to climate change. 

Guterres also stressed the need for increased climate finance, adaptation measures, and meaningful contributions to the Loss and Damage Fund.

"You must be able to find new innovative sources of financing and namely to finally put serious a price on carbon."

Unity for Sustainable Development

Guterres emphasised the global challenges in financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that debt servicing consumes funds while international financial institutions remain underpowered. He praised Caribbean countries for their leadership in pushing for change, stating, "Caribbean countries have been at the forefront of the fight for change – pioneering bold and creative solutions."

The Secretary-General highlighted the progress marked by the Pact for the Future, which commits to advancing an SDG Stimulus of $500 billion a year. He noted that the Pact calls for considering structural vulnerabilities in access to concessional funds, including through the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI). Additionally, it calls for representation in international financial institutions to "correct for the world's vast inequalities and injustices," and for effective action on debt.

Guterres urged the implementation of these commitments and emphasized the importance of ensuring all countries can benefit from sustainable development technologies by delivering on the Global Digital Compact.

The Secretary-General concluded his address by acknowledging the power of Caribbean unity. 

"A unified Caribbean is an unstoppable force. I urge you to keep using that power to push the world to deliver on its promise." — UN Secretary-General António Guterres

This story was first published on the United Nations Caribbean website.