BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC)– Outgoing Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland KC, bade farewell to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders describing them as “ powerhouse within the Commonwealth.”

Addressing the plenary session of the CARICOM summit that ends here later on Friday, Scotland, in an emotional speech, paid tribute to the strength, unity and leadership of the leaders as she thanked them for their support and solidarity with the 56-member Commonwealth, an association of independent countries that work together to promote democracy, peace, and development.

Praising their progress in climate resilience and economic and sustainable development, she said the Caribbean has solidified its position at the forefront of tackling global challenges.

The Dominican-born secretary-general steps down from her role at the end of March. When she took office in 2016, she promised to advocate for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and put it at the heart of the Commonwealth’s mission.

Among the achievements she highlighted at the summit was the expansion of the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH), which was conceived a decade ago by an Eminent Persons Group led by former President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo, who now serves as vice-president of the country.

CCFAH has helped Commonwealth member countries to unlock almost US$400 million. These funds are used to build resilience, invest in renewable energy, and protect natural ecosystems.

Reflecting on her nine-year tenure after her intervention at the meeting, the secretary-general said championing the Caribbean’s priorities on the global stage had been the greatest privilege of her life.

“I am also immensely proud of the Commonwealth Meridian, which streamlines public debt management. Commonwealth Meridian enhances transparency, accountability and supports informed decision-making for our member countries. And through our reformed and digitised Meridian, we have provided technical support to help Caribbean nations manage public debt sustainably.”

The outgoing Secretary-General is also encouraging member governments to take full advantage of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s programme designed to boost the efficiency of public services and improve performance management.

“This is crucial to the welfare of all citizens but especially small and developing island states in a post-pandemic world. We have developed a proprietary software called SMART (Strategic Management and Accountability Results Toolkit) as a tool for the implementation of an effective Government Performance Management System.”

Several Caribbean countries have taken advantage of the critical support provided by the Commonwealth, including rapid response protocols during crises such as hurricanes, including in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.

Scotland has strongly advocated for a Loss and Damage Fund to support vulnerable countries and has backed the Bridgetown Initiative, spearheaded by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley as well as the use of the UN’s Multilateral Vulnerability Index to address debt sustainability and climate vulnerability.

The Commonwealth Secretariat has also empowered thousands of young people with digital skills and established the Commonwealth AI Consortium and the Commonwealth AI Academy. The Secretariat is currently working on an expansion of its digital literacy programme with The University of the West Indies.

The next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be held in Antigua and Barbuda in 2026.