Minister Swaratsingh Calls For Strengthened South-South Cooperation To Boost Caribbean Growth
A call for a more strategic and results-driven approach to South-South cooperation has been made by the Chair of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCD), Dr. Kennedy Swaratsingh.
Addressing regional stakeholders at the 22nd Meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the CDCD, Minister Swaratsingh warned that the Caribbean faces persistent structural vulnerabilities, including high debt, climate shocks, and limited economies of scale. He emphasised that deeper cooperation with Latin America could help unlock solutions for resilience, diversification, and inclusive growth.
« It allows us to build partnership that reflects our realities, our ambitions, and the unique vulnerabilities of small island developing states. For Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean, the question is no longer whether South-South cooperation is useful. The real question, and the one this seminar invites us to answer, is how we can leverage it more deliberately to support structural transformation, increase resilience, and expand opportunities for our society and our citizens. »
He noted that South-South cooperation has the potential to open doors to advanced technologies, cutting-edge research, skills enhancement, and stronger institutions — solutions designed to meet the Caribbean’s unique needs.
« It allows us to share proven solutions, replicate successful models, and create shared public goods, such as digital platforms, resilient infrastructure, and financing mechanisms that individual SIDS could not establish alone. With access to technical expertise, we’d be able to accelerate implementation of projects that support sustained economic growth. »
According to Dr. Swaratsingh, these partnerships between Latin America and the Caribbean will undoubtedly provide a framework for all to benefit from our own unique experiences.
« First, we can explore regional project pipelines for social and environmental initiatives. Secondly, create joint investment platforms with Latin America and the Development Bank to support the economic, social, and environmental initiatives. And finally, there’s an opportunity for us to make triangular cooperation more targeted, utilising South-South technical expertise with a development partner financing component. »
The meetings on December 8th and 9th will feature two full days of deliberations by over thirty-two member and Associate Member States, the United Nations and several other associated agencies.
