Monday December 8, 2025
HIGH-LEVEL SEMINAR OF THE TWENTY-SECOND SESSION OF THE MONITORING COMMITTEE OF THE CARIBBEAN DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION COMMITTEE (CDCC) OF THE ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (ECLAC)
Statement by Senator Dr. the Honourable Kennedy Swaratsingh, Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development of Trinidad and Tobago in his capacity as Chair of the CDCC.
SALUTATIONS
- Jose Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean,
- Distinguished Ministers,
- Representatives and delegates of the diplomatic corps,
- Representatives and delegates of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee,
- Members of the United Nations System,
- Members of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, financial and academic institutions,
- Representatives and delegations online,
- Ladies and gentlemen
Good morning,
It is my privilege to address you this morning, and to welcome you once again to Port of Spain. Trinidad and Tobago is honoured to serve as Chair of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee, the CDCC and equally elated to partner with ECLAC in convening this important Seminar on unlocking the potential of our region and enhancing growth and development through South-South Cooperation.
The timing and theme could not be more relevant. Our region stands at a critical juncture. Some of the main structural vulnerabilities we have persistently been working to alleviate include high debt, exposure to climate shocks, limited economies of scale and an overreliance on a narrow set of economic sectors. While these factors have restricted our fiscal space, slowed productivity growth and hampered our ability to invest in more rapid and wholistic diversification, human capital, and innovation, we have never given up as a region or made our presence felt on the world stage in terms of advocating for ourselves.
Over time, we have also been strengthening a solution that is deeper;
more structured and strategic cooperation with our neighbours in the global South, especially within Latin America.
This is the focus of our conversation today. South-South Cooperation is not an alternative to development; it is a catalyst for development. It allows us to build partnerships that reflect 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 citizens.
Whether in the digital sphere, resilience-building, innovation, the sustainable use of natural resources or governance reforms, there is tremendous value in learning from the experiences of countries that have tackled similar challenges and achieved meaningful progress.
For the Caribbean, one of our greatest assets is our proximity to a diverse and dynamic Latin American region. This diversity provides us with a range of development experiences, policy innovations and institutional models that can help inform our own national and regional strategies. As we confront the long-term imperatives of economic diversification, climate resilience, food and energy security and institutional strengthening, this network of Southern partnerships becomes even more valuable.
But cooperation must be purposeful. Our region must focus on building the capabilities and systems that allow us to translate collaboration into measurable development outcomes. This requires modern, adaptable public institutions; stronger coordination among ministries and agencies; and a clear sense of national and regional priorities. These are the foundations upon which meaningful cooperation is built.
Equally important, is the need for the Caribbean to approach South-South Cooperation from a position of confidence. Our region is not only seeking support, but we also have expertise to share. The Caribbean has made meaningful strides in areas such as disaster preparedness, renewable energy integration, financial regulation, public service innovation, and cultural and creative industries. These experiences can add value to South-South initiatives and help shape a more balanced model of cooperation.
As Chair of the CDCC, Trinidad and Tobago is committed to supporting a more coherent and coordinated Caribbean voice within the wider Latin American and Caribbean framework. We believe that our collective priorities, sustainable development, economic transformation, social inclusion, and resilience are best achieved when tackled together. Strengthening our institutional platforms, improving information-sharing, and fostering a culture of collaboration are critical steps in this direction.
Today’s seminar is an important space to reflect on how South-South Cooperation can help us advance these shared objectives. But it is also an opportunity to reaffirm long-standing principles of solidarity, mutual benefit, equality of partnership, and respect for national priorities. These principles must continue to guide our efforts as we pursue new forms of cooperation and explore innovative ways of supporting the development of our people.
In this light, I encourage us to use our time together not only to examine what is possible, but to identify practical, forward-looking approaches that will carry our region into the next decade of sustainable development. The future we seek is one that is resilient, competitive, and inclusive, which depends on our ability to work together, to learn from one another, and to act with clarity and purpose.
Trinidad and Tobago stands ready to work alongside ECLAC, the Bureau, our regional partners and our neighbours across Latin America to advance this vision. Let us use this seminar as a launching point for deeper collaboration and a renewed commitment to the shared development of our region.
I thank you.
