October 26, 2026 Minister Johnson Pushes for Caribbean Financing Bloc, Warns Disaster Aid Must Reach Islands Faster

PRESS RELEASE

Minister of State in the Ministry of Social and Urban Transformation, Hon. Kiz Johnson, has called for a dedicated approach to financing for small Caribbean states, warning that delayed assistance and broad economic eligibility measures can undermine their recovery from disasters.

Representing Antigua and Barbuda at the XVIII Ministerial Forum for Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, Johnson urged international partners to recognise the distinct vulnerabilities of small island economies when allocating support.

The forum, held in Panama City on October 20 and 21 under the theme “Connecting Policies for Resilient Development,” brought together ministers and senior officials to discuss the region’s development challenges.

Johnson argued that grouping small Caribbean states with larger Latin American countries can obscure significant differences in resources, economic structures and capacity to withstand crises.

She proposed that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) establish a steering committee to help ensure small Caribbean island states are considered as a distinct bloc when assessing resilience and financing needs.

The proposed committee would help international partners better understand the circumstances of smaller territories and the urgency of financial support following disasters.

Johnson stressed that securing funding commitments was only part of the challenge.

“The point remains that it’s not only about financing for resilient development... but it’s about the timely receipt of those monies and further the equitable distribution of the same to ensure that financing reaches those that it is intended to reach,” she said.

She warned that small developing states have limited room within their national budgets to absorb major shocks and finance the recovery needed after a catastrophe.

Private financing alone, she argued, was insufficient to repair economies following disasters, making responsive international support essential.

Johnson also challenged the reliance on gross domestic product and income per capita to determine eligibility for financing, calling for assessments that reflect each country’s circumstances.

“There needs to be a more nuanced deep dive into each country; an approach that looks beyond such measures,” she said.

Her intervention highlighted the vulnerability of small, service-based economies to disasters, including hurricanes and earthquakes, and the need to strengthen preparedness before crises occur.

Representatives from St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the British Virgin Islands also voiced similar concerns, reinforcing the call for greater recognition of small Caribbean states’ financing needs.

Johnson urged UNDP and other development partners to prioritise islands with relatively small populations in their planning, with support systems capable of responding quickly when governments and communities need assistance.

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