Antigua and Barbuda Takes the Helm of UN Caribbean Development Committee

Antigua and Barbuda has assumed the chairmanship of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC), a key United Nations body focused on advancing economic and social development across the Caribbean, marking a significant milestone in the country’s regional and international leadership.

The twin-island state will chair the 31st session of the CDCC for the 2026–2028 period, following a formal handover from Trinidad and Tobago during the committee’s 22nd meeting held in Trinidad last week. The CDCC operates under the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and was established in 1975 to promote cooperation among Caribbean nations.

In recent years, the committee has played an increasingly important role in addressing the unique challenges faced by Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS), including climate change, disaster preparedness and recovery, sustainable development financing, and the expansion of South–South cooperation.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Walton Webson, welcomed the chairmanship as a timely opportunity for the country and the wider region.

“This leadership mandate could not have come at a better time, as it will help us to champion the ABAS decade as the regional implementation framework for SIDS resilience,” Ambassador Webson said.

He noted that the role would also strengthen Antigua and Barbuda’s position as a leading advocate for the operational expansion of the SIDS Centre of Excellence, while enabling deeper technical partnerships across Latin America and the Caribbean.

According to Ambassador Webson, key priorities during Antigua and Barbuda’s tenure will include building strong investment pipelines and pushing for reforms to climate financing arrangements that better reflect the vulnerabilities of Caribbean states.

“The CDCC, under Antigua and Barbuda’s leadership, must continue to advocate for fairness, predictability, and resilience as pillars of a new financial architecture for island states,” he added.

Ambassador Webson also expressed gratitude to Trinidad and Tobago for its stewardship of the committee, commending the country’s commitment to Caribbean integration and development during its chairmanship.

Antigua and Barbuda’s new role at the head of the CDCC is being viewed as a further signal of its growing influence within multilateral institutions and its continued advocacy on behalf of small island developing states on the global stage.