‘Diplomat for a Day’ programme hosts five young women at CARICOM headquarters

On Tuesday, June 24, 2024, a delegation of young women who assumed diplomatic roles participated in a special commemoration of the International Day of Women in Diplomacy.

CARICOM shared via press release that their visit included a courtesy call to the headquarters of the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana.

The group was received by General Counsel Lisa Shoman, who was joined by senior diplomatic representatives from the High Commissions of Belize and Trinidad and Tobago, the Embassy of Mexico, the Suriname delegation, and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) based in Guyana.

Expressing their hospitality, Ms. Shoman remarked, “We were honoured to host these young women as ‘Diplomats for A Day’ on this special occasion, International Day of Women in Diplomacy. This visit forms part of our commitment to young leaders in the Caribbean, by involving and including them in the work of the Secretariat. We hope that by learning about our responsibilities, they will become more active partners in the regional integration process.”

During their visit, the young women—Kyra Adams, Natassia Ashby, Amelie Burnham, Adanna Dorrick, and Chanecia LaRose—reportedly gained insights into the structure and functions of CARICOM, with a particular focus on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

According to the release, Assistant General Counsel Glayds Young provided an overview of the Council for Trade and Economic Development and explained the core regimes of the CSME, including the rights to establish businesses, provide services, and facilitate the free movement of skills, labor, goods, and capital.

Michele Small-Bartley, Programme Manager for Youth Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, emphasized the organization’s efforts to create greater opportunities for young people within the regional framework. She shared details about the CARICOM Youth Development Action Plan, which prioritizes areas such as access to education, health and wellness—including mental health and sexual reproductive health—leadership and governance, digitalization and technological advancement, human rights and safety, environmental sustainability, and cultural identity.

A key aspect of the visit, as outlined by CARICOM, was a presentation by Ms. Angella Prendergast, Director of Foreign and Community Relations, who highlighted that globally, fewer than 30 countries currently have a woman serving as Head of State or Government. She also discussed the significant participation of women in diplomacy within the Caribbean region.

The tour of the Secretariat concluded with discussions on document and records management processes and an overview of the building’s energy efficiency systems, providing the young diplomats with a comprehensive understanding of the Secretariat’s operations.

The “Diplomat for a Day” program was organized by Imperial House in Guyana in partnership with the Belize High Commission in Guyana. This initiative enabled young Guyanese women to shadow a Head of Mission, gaining practical experience in diplomatic duties.

The delegation was accompanied by high-ranking officials, including Belize’s High Commissioner to Guyana, H.E. Gale Garnett; Acting High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago, H.E. Candace Shade; Suriname’s Ambassador to CARICOM, H.E. Liselle Blankendal; Mexico’s Ambassador to CARICOM, H.E. Mauricio Vizcaino Crespo; and Mr. Wilmot Garnett, Head of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture in Guyana.