CARICOM leaders meet with their Canadian counterpart.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders met with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday to strengthen regional ties, expand trade and investment, and advance cooperation on climate action and security.

The leaders are gathered here for the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which ends on Wednesday.

Carney hosted a working breakfast with regional leaders ahead of the official opening, allowing Canada to deepen its engagement with the region as small states seek stronger international partnerships and greater economic opportunities.

ST. Lucia Prime Minister and CARICOM chairman, Phillip J Pierre, said St. Lucia and Canada share a longstanding friendship built on mutual respect and meaningful cooperation.

“I look forward to further strengthening this valued partnership and advancing opportunities that benefit our people and both nations,” he said, adding, “our discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in trade, education, climate change and human resource development.”

“As part of the Commonwealth family, it is important that we continue to build and strengthen our connections for the collective benefit of our regions and peoples,” Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness wrote on his Facebook page, adding, “today, we continue our discussions and engagements here at CHOGM”

This is Carney’s first visit to the Caribbean since becoming Prime Minister of Canada, and he is expected to participate in two executive sessions at the meeting as well as hold bilateral talks with the leaders of Australia and Ghana.

Carney will also attend a lunch hosted by the head of the Commonwealth, Britain’s King Charles.

Much of the Commonwealth meeting will focus on trade. However, experts say it is also an opportunity to strengthen diplomatic ties with a variety of countries in the 56-member organization.