Basseterre, Saint Kitts, March 11, 2026 (SKNIS) — Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, has reaffirmed the vital importance of regional integration through the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), emphasising that the collective strength of the region enables small island states to achieve levels of development, security, and opportunity that would be difficult to attain individually.
Dr. Drew, who currently serves as Chairman of CARICOM, made the remarks during the Tuesday, March 10 edition of the Roundtable, where he outlined several tangible ways in which CARICOM directly benefits the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis and the wider Caribbean.
The prime minister noted that while CARICOM’s contributions are significant, they are often underappreciated by citizens across the region.
“Our people benefit so much from CARICOM, but we do not tell our people how they benefit,” Dr. Drew stated, pointing to institutions such as the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) as one of the most visible examples of regional cooperation in action.
“Saint Kitts and Nevis alone cannot have a reputable examination board like CXC, and because of that [our people] can apply to almost any institution anywhere in the world,” he explained. “CARICOM offers you that, as a young person who would want to advance and develop — to apply to an institution across the world because it is respected.”
Dr. Drew also highlighted the Regional Security System (RSS) as another critical pillar of regional cooperation that strengthens national security across member states.
“We in Saint Kitts know that if something were to happen in this country that overwhelms our military and police, we know that we can pick up the phone and call the RSS and in less than 24 hours there will be a number of planes on the tarmac with persons coming to bring back peace and order in Saint Kitts and Nevis,” the prime minister said. “That is a result of CARICOM.”
Dr. Drew pointed to enhanced border protection through regional security cooperation, as well as disaster preparedness through the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) as additional examples of the region’s shared strength.
“We cannot do that on our own. We do not have the resources on our own. We do not have the expertise on our own,” he said. “But together, all of us pooling our resources, we then can afford it, and we then can have that expertise.”
Prime Minister Drew emphasised that the overarching value of CARICOM lies in what he described as “collective sovereignty” — a model in which independent states strengthen their independence by working together.
“Collective sovereignty is when a group of states come together, pool resources for the sovereignty of each,” he explained. “Without CARICOM we might be begging, knocking at the doorstep of the great powers again… but with CARICOM we can stand as independent states supporting each other.”
He added that regional unity allows Caribbean nations to engage internationally from a position of strength and mutual respect.
Prime Minister Drew’s remarks follow the successful hosting of the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in Saint Kitts and Nevis in February. The meeting saw a level of solidarity and full attendance of Heads of Government of Member States not seen in nearly a decade, reflecting renewed commitment to regional collaboration and integration.
Dr. Drew said this unity reinforces the Caribbean’s ability to address shared challenges while advancing sustainable development across the region.
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