Gonsalves takes over CARICOM reins this week

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves will officially take over the chairmanship of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) during a virtual special conference on Friday.

He will succeed Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who has held the post for the last six months.

During Friday’s virtual meeting, CARICOM leaders are expected to also address a number of procedural matters.

As CARICOM chairman, among other things, Mottley hosted the 31st Intersessional Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in February and held a number of special meetings in March and May to map out a strategy to deal with the COVID-19 crisis.