Caribbean Community

Their ports are open.

In recent months, data shows that shipments have arrived from Belize, from Canada, from Chile, from China, from Colombia, from Mexico, from Russia, from Spain, from Uruguay, from the European Union, from CARICOM, from agencies within the U.N., and yes, from the United States, in fact.

And as I have stated, consider the facts.

In the first eight months of this year, of 2026, American companies have exported nearly a billion dollars of goods, $876 million to be exact, to Cuba, including a quarter billion in fuel.

Have you seen any progress in terms of the debt relief and those other issues in terms of reparations?

So in terms of the CARICOM 10-point plan for reparations, we're still really at the beginning because the first point is the full informal apology.

But we've seen very big steps in the global reparations movement.

In particular, the United Nations declaring transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans the gravest crime against humanity.

Well, thank you again.

The CTU, a regional organization established by CARICOM heads of government, is tasked with harmonizing ICT policy within the CARICOM member states.

It is important that with respect to our efforts to drive digital transformation or the efforts of our member states to drive digital transformation nationally, that digital payments or means of paying for goods and services digitally is a part of the discussion.

Therefore, we sought to have this seminar to raise public awareness There are a number of initiatives taking place in the region, and it's been a whole lot of discussion around digital currencies and cryptocurrencies.

Because it's the small man, as it were, the vendor on the side of the road that you want to empower to be able to receive payments digitally on his mobile phone and not have to jump through the huge hurdles with respect to your customer or money laundering requirements, the bank and so on.

And so I think it is important to have a supportive regulatory framework that encourages these innovations, that provides the safeguards and so on to protect consumers, but with a clear understanding that there are significant opportunities here for the unbanked, for those that are not currently in the system, but also for those even if they are in the system, those small and medium enterprises that want to trade across borders, not just within their borders, but across borders.

And this is the whole ethos of the single market and economy that we're creating a single space within CARICOM that we can trade in goods and services and provide opportunities for our citizens.

So if I may add something.

Il aussi informé qui compagnie NH c'était primaire parmi sept proposals après assessment technical et puis financier qui était faite par professionnel qui indépendant.

Il aussi noté qui projet développement HIE ka y by plus opportunité pour travailler pays à jeune, jeune Saint-Lucien et puis l'autre pep CARICOM.

Il a ajouté qui présence tout membre cabinet ka mutuer degré importance projet a yé pour gouvernement et qui ok ay amander à chaque question pour faire assurer tout bagage marcher bien.

Chairman executive NH International Emile Elias, oui merci premier ministre là et puis cabinet coopération régionale ek bon relation CARICOM.

Il dit une soixante et une années expérience qui ka marcher exactement trente-deux l'année après ibati facilité terminal aéroport.

Elias by un commitment qui compagnie NH International ka employer contracteur matrio et puis l'autre travail ek service Saint-Lucie pendant il ka essayer délivrer projet à l'air ek un degré international.

Prime Minister Pierre highlighted that NH International emerged as the best-evaluated bidder out of seven final proposals, following a rigorous technical and financial assessment overseen by independent professionals.

Pierre expressed great pride in the procurement framework, noting that the major infrastructural development will unlock immense opportunities for local workers, young St. Lucians and CARICOM nationals.

We are going to be asking questions.

And the presence of the cabinet today signifies how important we take it.

The significance of this project and the time we took to get there also shows... what the government sought of investing at Ibanora Airport.

Meantime, NH International Executive Chairman Emil Elias thanked Prime Minister Pierre and his cabinet for their steadfast belief in regional cooperation and the CARICOM relationship.

Elias, a veteran contractor with 61 years of experience, expressed that the award represents a proud homecoming, coming exactly 32 years after he personally built the airport's existing terminal facility.

Elias issued a firm pledge that NH International will maximize the use of St. Lucia contractors suppliers, labor, and materials to the absolute fullest extent possible while ensuring the project is delivered on time and to the highest standards.

The significance of this project and the time it took to get there also shows... what the government sought of investing at Iwanori Airport.

Meantime, NH International Executive Chairman Emil Elias thanked Prime Minister Pierre and his cabinet for their steadfast belief in regional cooperation and the CARICOM relationship.

Elias, a veteran contractor with 61 years of experience, expressed that the award represents a proud homecoming, coming exactly 32 years after he personally built the airport's existing terminal facility.

Elias issued a firm pledge that NH International will maximize the use of St. Lucian contractors, suppliers, labor, and materials, to the absolute fullest extent possible while ensuring the project is delivered on time and to the highest standards.

I think an apology and then the beginning of conversations.

Because if you look at the CARICOM 10-point plan, it starts with apology.

Money comes quite far down in the list of those ten points.

It's also about sending antiquities back to the countries in which they were plundered from.