Deputy Premier and Minister of BorderControl and Employment Services, Hon. Sean Astwood, represented the Turks andCaicos Islands (TCI) at the 30th Inter-sessional Meeting of the Conference ofHeads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) held in St. Kitts onFebruary 26–27, 2019. During the conference, regional leaders addressedpressing issues such as economic growth, border security, crime, regionaltransportation, blacklisting, and climate change. Hon. Astwood delivered apresentation highlighting the existential challenges posed by climate change toCARICOM nations, emphasizing the need for collective action to addressvulnerabilities. He also extended an invitation to regional leaders for aClimate Change Conference in TCI, aimed at fostering partnerships and definingactionable solutions.

Commenting on the significance of themeeting, Astwood underscored the opportunity it provided to strengthencollaboration with CARICOM leaders, network with full and associate members,and advance the TCI’s strategic objectives. "This meeting allows us toengage directly with regional leaders to address shared challenges and securesupport for the Turks and Caicos Islands’ initiatives," he stated. TheDeputy Premier highlighted TCI’s commitment to tackling regional issues whileadvancing its prosperity through meaningful dialogue and partnerships.

The conference also featured discussionswith the President of Estonia, Her Excellency Kersti Kaljulaid, who expressedinterest in assisting CARICOM nations in building e-government capabilities.Additionally, the meeting addressed recovery from the global economic crisisand political developments in Venezuela and Haiti. Accompanying Deputy PremierAstwood were Mr. Ronlee James, Executive Director of the Premier’s Office, andMs. Bernadya Smith, Executive Administrator to the Minister. This high-level engagementreflects TCI’s commitment to contributing to regional solutions and securingits position within the Caribbean’s collective efforts for sustainable growthand resilience.