Emergency CARICOM Heads Session

Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 13, 2021  (ZIZ News) CARICOM member countries including Saint Kitts and Nevis will be taking a unified approach towards international lending agencies as the region tries to recover from the impact of the covid-19 pandemic.

This, according to Prime Minister Dr Hon Timothy Harris who, in an interview with ZiZ news, gave an update on an Emergency meeting of CARICOM heads on Tuesday focusing on economic recovery and transformation.

Dr Harris said the heads heard a report put forward by Barbados prime minister The Honorable Mia Mottley on the findings of a committee that was tasked with determining the best way forward for the region.

He said several proposals were listed to be discussed with international lending agencies such as the World Bank that would assist the region’s recovery.

Among them was special treatment to debt incurred in responding to the pandemic.

He also spoke about revamping the vulnerability index which is used to assess Caribbean countries.

He said this would enable countries like St. Kitts Nevis to borrow funds for programmes to assist the people.

The prime minister said the next step is for the committee to meet with individual states to determine their precise needs.