Category: CANA News

Dominica Tuesday remembered the passage of the catastrophic category 5 hurricane Maria nine years ago, with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit saying that 34 nationals are still reported as being missing in addition to the 31 killed by the storm.

‘Nine years ago on the night of September 18, 2017, Dominica went through hell,’ Skerrit told a sitting of the Dominica Parliament, adding that the storm which made a direct hit on the Caribbean island with winds in excess of 160 miles per hour ‘ batted us without mercy.

‘She did not spare the rich or the poor, the young or the old, the farmer in the hills or the fisherman on the coast. Mr. Speaker, this House must never forget what that night did to our citizens,’ he said, noting that he has met with families ‘who never got to bury their loved ones.

‘That pain remains,’ Skerrit said, adding that the assessments showed 90 per cent of all houses were damaged, over 80 per cent of the population left homeless overnight.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit Tuesday paid tribute to the family of Desiree John, the wife of Dominica’s first prime minister Patrick John, who died at the Dominica-Friendship Hospital early Tuesday. She was 78 years old.

The cause of death has not been disclosed but family members said she died at the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital.

Skerrit, who is leading the Dominica Labour Party (DLP) that John led when the island attained its political independence from Britain in 1978, told Parliament that while Mrs John did not hold office, Dominica was grateful for her contribution to nation building alongside her late husband who died in July 2021 at the age of 83.

‘That in itself is a serious responsibility and during very difficult periods of our country’s history, but she stood steadfast in the service of Dominica and we are very grateful for her service.’

Skerrit said that while the Cabinet had taken a decision to recognise the service and the contribution of former prime ministers by providing them with facilitation, the Cabinet also further amended that decision

‘I believe that the time will have to come at some point where the Parliament needs to have this as an act of Parliament, so that beyond any political considerations, that those matters are squarely settled,’ Skerrit added.

Mrs John is survived by her seven children as well as her brother, the former Windward islands cricketer Thomas Kentish.

The Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE), says while Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has reached a milestone in its energy transition, this rapid growth also presents critical challenges for the region.

In its latest report, OLACDE said that LAC has surpassed one million electrified light-duty vehicles for the first time and that as of June 2026, the region had registered 1,016,034 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), including 285,785 units added in the first half of the year alone.

It said that this represents exponential growth compared with the 17,541 units recorded in 2020.

OLACDE said that the data point to a commercial turning point with 10 per cent of all light-duty vehicles sold in the region so far in 2026 are BEVs or PHEVs.

‘Electric public transport is also expanding steadily. The regional fleet reached 10,685 electric buses, adding 967 units in just three quarters, an increase of nearly 10 per cent in three months,’ OLACDE said, adding that charging infrastructure is expanding alongside this growth.

It said beyond decarbonization, the projected economic benefits for the LAC is an estimated annual energy savings per vehicle amount to US$26,210 for each electric bus and US$2,240 for each fully electric car.

‘When extrapolated to the current fleet in operation, the net benefit to the region’s economies translates into US$1.519 billion in annual energy savings, equivalent to nearly US$4 million per day. This flow helps ease pressure on countries’ trade balances by reducing structural exposure to fluctuations in international gasoline and diesel prices.’

But OLACDE said that despite the positive figures, it notes that consolidating the electric mobility ecosystem will require an accelerated expansion of charging infrastructure, robust planning of electricity distribution networks and the development of competitive financing conditions.

It said these challenges will be at the heart of the first Regional Sustainable Mobility Summit to be held here on November 26 ‘as a strategic forum to strengthen regional cooperation and accelerate the transformation of the transport sector’.

Suriname Tuesday said the in-coming United Nations Secretary General must portray strong commitment to multilateralism, dialogue, and the rule of law as it endorsed the Guyana diplomat Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett for the position.

‘Many capable candidates, including women leaders, who have taken up the challenge have been put forth, and for the first time in history, we have a female candidate from the Caribbean,’ Suriname President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons told the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The incumbent Antonio Guterres will office at the end of December at the end of his second five-year term

President Geerlings -Simons told the international community that the 15-member regional integration movement, CARICOM, endorses Rodriques-Birkett’s candidacy, adding ‘we are at that time in history where trust in the United Nations must urgently be restored.

‘Suriname will do what we can, and we call on the more influential members of the United Nations to help maintain peace, to make sure that there is peace in the world, because only a United Nations capable of safeguarding international peace and security will deliver for all,

she added.

Earlier, the Suriname Head of State said that her country is firmly committed to the upholding of international law ‘as we depend on a rule-based international order without which, like many other vulnerable nations, we simply cannot exist as sovereign countries’.

She said the consistent application of international law and the strengthening of its institutions is also essential to maintain international peace and security, protect human rights, and ensure sustainable development for all.

President Geerlings-Simons said that the international community is experiencing profound uncertainty, including energy and food security crises, leading to intensified displacement of many people globally.

‘Armed conflicts continue to claim innocent lives, while geopolitical tensions escalate. Children are living through unimaginable horrors. The United Nations has not been able to prevent this or to end the continuation and we have to ponder on that. ‘

She said other developments, for example in the Strait of Hormuz, demonstrate how quickly wars can affect energy markets, suddenly and steeply increasing the cost of energy, adversely impacting economic and social development.

‘Common people suffer when food and energy prices rise, so the quality of life of our people is directly threatened, even by wars in regions far from their homes. And we as government, we have to make sure that we try to protect them.’

She said Suriname is therefore calling for a renewed commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, namely the peaceful resolution of disputes, insisting that ‘dialogue is paramount for safeguarding a solid and proven UN system.

‘The people of Cuba, a Caribbean country, are adversely affected by the current situation in their country. Suriname calls on the parties involved to remain committed to dialogue and negotiation, to end the economic, commercial, and financial embargo.

‘We plead for continuing of negotiations in order to prevent further escalation and to reach a resolution that will benefit the people of Cuba,’ she said.

The United States, which has in place a decades old trade and economic embargo against Havana, has in recent months stepped its programme of seeking to remove the government on the island.

The aggressive strategy, led by the Donald Trump administration has pushed the island into an unprecedented humanitarian and economic crisis, and following Washington’s removal of the Nicolás Maduro government in Venezuela, it has completely halted Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba, cutting off the island’s primary energy lifeline.

In her address, President Geerlings-Simons also called for sustained international support for Haiti to restore security, constitutional order, and democratic governance.

‘Suriname supports solutions that place the Haitian people at the centre,’ she said, adding that reform must protect and improve the United Nations’ capacity to deliver and also make the system easier to navigate.

‘It should not reduce support where it is most needed. Equally important is the overdue reform of the Security Council. Hence, Suriname reiterates its call for making it more representative, more accountable, and more capable of acting.’

She said the Dutch-speaking CARICOM country supports Africa in its demand for ‘just permanent representation’ on the UN Security Council, adding ‘likewise, we underscore the relevance of a dedicated representation for small island states and low-lying coastal developing states’.

President Geerlings-Simons said that regional and international partnerships remain indispensable to achieve economic and social objectives as Suriname continues to actively engage in various regional bodies and mechanisms, including CARICOM, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and Brasilia Consensus.

‘As Suriname prepares to be the chair of the Caribbean community CARICOM in 2027 we are also committed to further strengthen our partnership globally in different areas of shared interest.

‘Our regional priorities are practical. Food and energy security, climate resilience, improved connectivity and movement of skilled people, transportation of goods and services,’ she said, adding ‘these are essential to economic integration and our ability to withstand external shocks’.

She said that the pursuit of restorative justice gained new momentum with the adoption of the resolution n slavery and transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans in March this year.

‘This development is relevant for Suriname and equally important for the countries of the Caribbean region. The discussion is no longer about whether slavery and colonialism have caused lasting consequences, negative consequences.

‘We know we are living them. We increasingly must focus on how to overcome these effects and on the question of what form reparation should take to achieve that. How countries that have benefited from slavery and colonialism will compensate the effect.

‘That is the important issue now. It is therefore that the CARICOM 10-point plan for restorative justice is now of eminent importance,’ she told the UNGA.

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons assistant coach and bowling consultant Sir Curtly Ambrose said he is not surprised by the team’s title-winning performance in the just concluded Caribbean Premier League.

The Falcons captured their maiden CPL title on Sunday night in dominant fashion with a comprehensive eight-wicket win over the Jamaica Kingsmen at Kensington Oval.

While the accomplishment might come as a surprise to many, the legendary West Indies fast bowler said he always believed the team had the talent to go all the way.

‘When we started the CPL tournament, not many gave us a chance to qualify, let alone win the championship. They called other franchises, but we were happy with that because being underdogs means we were under no pressure to perform.

‘We knew that we had a great team that is capable of not only winning games, but winning the championship, and for 2026, the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons are the CPL champions,’ Sir Curtly said.

It proved to be the perfect birthday gift for Sir Curtly, who celebrated his 63rd birthday on Monday.

He said the commitment of the entire coaching staff as well as the support of Antiguans and Barbudans contributed towards the team’s success.

‘Coach Nixon always stressed that: no pressure. We work hard, we play together as a team, we enjoy what we do and we reap the benefits. As Ibis [Steve Freeland] always says, ‘Believe nah man!’ We kept believing, and we knew we had what it takes.

‘And, of course, our Prime Minister [Gaston Browne] is here, the other ministers of government are here, the Barbados Prime Minister [Mia Mottley] is here as well, so it’s a total celebration, and I’m loving it,’ Sir Curtly said.

London, United Kingdom Sep 20, 2026 (Issuewire.com) – CARIBBEAN GLOBAL AWARDS LAUNCHES – The Caribbean Africa Chamber of Commerce (CACC)

Operating under The Caribbean Africa Chamber of Commerce (CACC), the Caribbean Global Awards brand and endorsed by Ghana’s Diaspora Affairs Office, CACC launches a governance-led gateway connecting Africa, the Caribbean and North America.

Africa Caribbean And Global Diaspora United | 19 September 2026

The Caribbean Africa Chamber of Commerce (CACC), operating under the Caribbean Global Awards brand, today announced the expansion of its governance-led platform connecting African nations, the Caribbean and the global diaspora. Its 2026 regional launch programme will begin in Ghana from 10 to 17 October and continue in Nigeria from 30 November to 5 December, alongside a new Health Knowledge Exchange linking North America, the Caribbean and Africa.

CACC has been established to convert longstanding cultural and diaspora connections into practical economic, institutional and social outcomes. Its work will support market access, investment readiness, trusted introductions, knowledge exchange and the development of sustainable cross-regional projects.

Credibility: CACC operates under the established Caribbean Global Awards brand and has received the endorsement of Ghana’s Diaspora Affairs Office. This foundation strengthens the Chamber’s credibility as a diaspora gateway while preserving a clear commitment to governance, due diligence, transparency and responsible engagement.

Unity: The CACC will unite public institutions, private enterprises, professional bodies and community leaders within a trusted platform. CACC will help organisations navigate and enter new markets, connect with credible decision-makers, establish investment-ready partnerships and transform shared opportunities into sustainable projects that deliver measurable economic and social impact across Africa, the Caribbean and the global diaspora.

Partnerships: The Caribbean Global Awards brand also works in partnership with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), chaired by the Honourable Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa OON, in support of stronger Africa-Caribbean diaspora engagement.

CACC’s partnership with Air Peace provides valuable transatlantic connectivity, creating stronger pathways for travel, trade, investment and diaspora engagement.

The Caribbean Media Corporation and it’s pan- Caribbean television channel, CaribVision supports the Caribbean Global Awards vision to amplify voices, celebrate and promote diaspora engagement.

Africa Regional Launch Programme 2026: The CACC regional launch programme will commence in Ghana from 10 to 17 October 2026, followed by Nigeria from 30 November to 5 December 2026. These launches establish Ghana and Nigeria as important gateways within a wider Africa-Caribbean strategy that is designed to include and engage nations across the African continent.

Each programme will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, healthcare leaders, innovators, institutions and diaspora professionals for structured business engagement, market insight, cultural connection and partnership development. Activities will include official CACC launch events, business networking, sector discussions and opportunities to connect participants with local enterprise, institutions and investment ecosystems.

Health Knowledge Exchange: Health will be a flagship pillar of the Chamber’s work. The CACC Health Knowledge Exchange will create a trusted bridge among health systems, universities, professional bodies, innovators and diaspora experts across North America, the Caribbean and Africa. It will move beyond ceremonial dialogue by supporting practical exchange in:

workforce development, clinical leadership and education, mentoring and specialist skills transfer

digital health, artificial intelligence and responsible technology adoption

cancer care, public health and health inequalities

research collaboration, innovation pathways and locally relevant solutions

diaspora-led investment and partnerships that strengthen health-system resilience

Built on reciprocal learning, programmes will be shaped with local leaders and institutions to address identified priorities, build capability and produce sustainable benefits.

A Governance Led Gateway: CACC brings commerce, professional knowledge, diaspora networks and cultural understanding into one accountable platform. Partners will work through transparent processes, defined responsibilities and outcome-focused collaborations. This model is designed to protect trust, reduce avoidable risk and strengthen the prospects of long-term delivery.

‘The Caribbean and Africa share history, heritage and enormous unrealised potential. Through the Caribbean Global Awards brand, we have built trusted international relationships and a respected platform that celebrates excellence. CACC takes that foundation forward by converting connection into governed trade, credible investment and sustainable partnerships. Our Health Knowledge Exchange will mobilise expertise across North America, the Caribbean and Africa to strengthen leadership, innovation and health outcomes.’ – Dr (h.c.) Michaelene HoHolder-March – Sole Founder and Chair, Caribbean Africa Chamber of Commerce and Caribbean Global Awards Brand

Leadership and Partner Voices:

‘This initiative creates an important opportunity to transform the historic relationship between Africa, the Caribbean and the global diaspora into practical collaboration in trade, investment, entrepreneurship and knowledge exchange.’ – Mr Kofi Okyere Darko, Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President of Ghana

‘NiDCOM would like to commend you and your team for this laudable initiative and, in particular, for your efforts towards strengthening the historic and enduring ties between Africa and the Caribbean. NiDCOM appreciates the vision behind this initiative and the opportunities it seeks to create.’ – Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, chaired by the Honourable Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa OON

‘This powerful collaboration will, for the first time, give members of the diaspora greater confidence to pursue trade, investment and relocation opportunities while strengthening the health pathways connecting our regions.’ – Dr Emma Oliveira, Director of Africa Affairs, CACC

‘For generations, the Atlantic separated communities that remained united by ancestry, culture and aspiration. This Chamber marks a historic turning point: we are building the trusted institutional bridge through which Africa, the Caribbean and our global diaspora can move from shared history to shared prosperity.’ – Dr (h.c.) Michaelene Holder-March, Founder and Chair, CACC and Caribbean Global Awards

‘The Eastern Caribbean brings enterprise, energy expertise, tourism innovation and a powerful culture of resilience to this partnership. CACC will give our businesses and entrepreneurs a credible route to African markets while opening new pathways for reciprocal investment, knowledge and opportunity.’ – Dr Julian Adjodha, CACC Director for Eastern Caribbean Affairs and Founder of Island Adventures and JAG Petroleum

‘CACC defines our future by bringing us together to trade, innovate and remove the boundaries that have too often limited collaboration between Africa, the Caribbean and the global diaspora.’ – Ambassador Wallace Williams, Patron of CACC

‘The Global Health Catalyst is excited by the potential of this Health Knowledge Exchange to connect expertise, innovation and institutions across North America, the Caribbean and Africa. By working together, we can accelerate locally relevant solutions and create stronger, more equitable pathways to better health outcomes.’ – Dr Wil Ngwa, Director of the Global Health Catalyst

Invitation to Partners: CACC invites governments, chambers of commerce, health institutions, universities, professional bodies, investors, businesses, sponsors and exhibitors to participate in the Ghana and Nigeria launches and the wider Africa-Caribbean programme. The Chamber welcomes partners that share its commitment to integrity, reciprocity, diaspora inclusion and demonstrable impact.

About the Caribbean Africa Chamber of Commerce: The Caribbean Africa Chamber of Commerce operates under the Caribbean Global Awards brand. It connects Caribbean and African businesses, institutions, professionals, investors and diaspora communities through trade facilitation, investment engagement, knowledge exchange and strategic partnerships. Its work is guided by governance, cultural intelligence and a commitment to shared prosperity.

The main opposition United Workers Party (UWP) has called for an independent investigation into the operations of the St. Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF) and has submitted to Prime Minister Phillip J Pierre draft terms of reference (ToR) to guide and direct the proposed independent investigation.

In a statement, the UWP said that since July 2, this year there have been social media posts suggesting illegal activities at the SSDF and that there has been ‘no public comment on the matter by the Chairman or Executive Director of the SSDF’.

The party said that Prime Minister Pierre, who has responsibility for the SSDF ‘has not announced any formal independent investigation into this matter.

‘The SSDF is a critical institution mandated by law to provide support to the poor and vulnerable in the country and receives funding from the government of St. Lucia, friendly governments and other development partners.

‘At his point, the credibility of the SSDF is at stake and restoring that credibility demands that a comprehensive investigation be undertaken guided by the principles of transparency, accountability and due process,’ the opposition party said.

The UWP said that as part of its contribution to restoring the integrity and credibility of the SSDF, it has developed and submitted for the consideration of the government a draft TOR ‘to guide and direct an independent investigation.

‘The UWP believes that only a transparent approach to the conduct of the investigation will reassure the public mind that the investigation fair and not a farce or sham. ‘

In August, Prime Minister Pierre said that the Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet was intent on damaging ‘the good name of the country’ when he sent correspondence to several regional and international organisations questioning the transparency, governance, and financial management, including the audit independence of the SSDF.

‘So it’s very sad, for political reasons, to damage the good name of the country, that the Leader of the Opposition go in public view and put a signature on what he knows very well is untrue,’ Pierre told reporters at the weekly news conference.

‘He knows very well what he did not do when he was Minister of Finance. The last statements, 2017, 2018, were done in March 2023, and the Leader of the Opposition was Minister of Finance from 2016 to 2021,’Pierre said, adding the last of the statements were given in March 2023.

Chastanet had in a July 28 letter to Prime Minister Pierre and copied extensively to several organisations including the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank,(CDB), foreign embassies and representatives of civil society organisations, warned of the future engagement of international benefactors, and their commitment to the development of St. Lucia.

The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) said that communities across rural Jamaica are expected to benefit from improved access to reliable, potable water through a US$36 million investment in the Jamaica Rural Water Supply Programme.

CDB will provide US$30 million, approximately 83 per cent of the programme cost, largely through concessional resources from ite Special Development Fund (SDF). The Jamaica government will contribute US$6.249 million.

The bank and the Jamaica government solidified arrangements for a five-year programme which will develop and upgrade six water-supply schemes across five parishes.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the programme advances the government’s objective of extending reliable, utility-grade water services across the island.

‘We are edging closer to achieving universal utility-grade water access in Jamaica. Every year, we are making investments of this nature,’ Holness said.

CDB president, Daniel M. Best, said the investment will improve quality of life while strengthening the resilience of communities facing growing pressure on water resources.

‘The Jamaica Rural Water Supply Programme is about far more than pipes, pumps and reservoirs. It is about improving lives,’ Best said, highlighting that reliable water services support households, schools, health facilities, farmers and businesses, while helping communities withstand the growing impacts of climate change.

The CDB said that approximately 62 per cent of the population targeted by the programme currently relies on unimproved water sources, including rainwater and springs. The investment will expand access to utility-grade water while reducing the time households spend collecting and storing water and supporting economic activity in agriculture, small businesses and tourism.

It said the programme will upgrade water treatment and transmission infrastructure, develop water sources and storage capacity, and install energy-efficient pumps, solar photovoltaic systems and remote monitoring technology.

Best said the investment is particularly important as climate change places greater pressure on Caribbean water resources through droughts, changing rainfall patterns and extreme weather.

‘As we respond to today’s needs, we must also prepare for tomorrow’s realities. Investments such as this allow us to deliver essential services while building the resilience communities need for the future,’ he said.

The Jamaica Rural Water Supply Programme will be implemented by Rural Water Supply Limited over 60 months, with completion targeted for September 2031. The upgraded systems will be designed to National Water Commission standards and transferred to the NWC for operation and maintenance following completion.

Dominica Tuesday remembered the passage of the catastrophic category 5 hurricane Maria nine years ago, with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit saying that 34 nationals are still reported as being missing in addition to the 31 killed by the storm.

‘Nine years ago on the night of September 18, 2017, Dominica went through hell,’ Skerrit told a sitting of the Dominica Parliament, adding that the storm which made a direct hit on the Caribbean island with winds in excess of 160 miles per hour ‘ batted us without mercy.

‘She did not spare the rich or the poor, the young or the old, the farmer in the hills or the fisherman on the coast. Mr. Speaker, this House must never forget what that night did to our citizens,’ he said, noting that he has met with families ‘who never got to bury their loved ones.

‘That pain remains,’ Skerrit said, adding that the assessments showed 90 per cent of all houses were damaged, over 80 per cent of the population left homeless overnight.

‘…imagine what that means. A mother in Goodwill with three children sitting in the rain because her roof is gone. An elderly man in Grand Bay who built his home with his own hands over 30 years, watched it lift and disappear. For months, our citizens lived under tarpaulins in community centres, five families to one home. ‘

Skerrit said that the storm also caused severe damage resulting in the World Bank and the United Nations assessing the total damage and loss at 226 per cent of the island’s gross domestic product (GDP).

‘In one night, more than two years of everything we produced as a country was wiped out. The Dominica China Friendship Hospital flooded. Health centres lost their roofs. Doctors operated by flashlight, 95 per cent of our schools were damaged, 10,000 children had no classroom to go to for months.

‘There was no light, no water, no phone,’ he said adding that he has met citizens who still cannot sleep when it rains hard.

Skerrit said that while many people said that the island would never ever recover because ‘we were too poor, too small, too broken’ what they did not take into consideration the strength of the Dominican people.

‘From day one, this government said we would not simply build back, we would build back better. We set ourselves an ambitious goal to build Dominica into the world’s first climate resilient nation. Nine years later, we have remained steadfast in that commitment.

‘We have rebuilt stronger, invested differently, and placed resilience at the heart of our national development. We have not yet completed that journey. But the progress we have made is real, visible, and transforming lives.’

He said that the reconstruction effort is ongoing and that today ‘Dominica is producing again.

‘Our markets are full again with our own products. We speak, Mr Speaker, high electricity prices hurt every family, that is why our geothermal plant in the Roseau Valley is so important to us in Dominica.’

He said in the past few months, Dominica has witnessed the impact of geothermal with cheaper, cleaner energy on the national grid.

‘That means lower bills for single mothers, for the small shopkeeper, and for the hotel sector. The geothermal has also helped to shield Dominicans from higher electricity rates as a result of the high cost of energy across the world.

‘ We are building our international airport,’ he said, recalling that when the hurricane struck nine years ago planes could not land and ‘we were cut off.

‘Our citizens could not be evacuated. Our international airport will ensure that that never happens again and every day on that site, over 300 Dominicans are working,’ Skerrit said, telling legislators that the ‘the journey is not over.

‘Building a truly climate resilient nation is not a destination we reach overnight. It is a continuing national undertaking. There are still families waiting for their homes. There are still river walls to build, communities to strengthen, infrastructure to protect, and farmers who need greater support.

‘We know that, and we remain committed to doing the work. But nine years after Maria, we can also look back and see how far we have come. From tarpaulins to concrete roofs, from darkness to geothermal light, from isolation to international airport, from food aid to feeding ourselves again.

‘We are not finished, but we are stronger, better prepared, and more determined than ever,’ Skerrit added.

The Barbados Minister of Health and Wellness, Lisa Cummins, will address the opening ceremony of the 63rd Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Directing Council that gets underway here on September 28.

Cummins, who is also the outgoing President of the Directing Council, will address the four-day conference which will review major public health advances and challenges in the region and consider the adoption of new policies, strategies, and plans of action that will shape regional cooperation in the years ahead.

Apart from Cummins, the PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, and senior representatives of the United States government, the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) are also expected to participate.

Following the opening session, Dr. Barbosa will present his annual report on the health situation in the Americas highlighting progress in disease elimination, immunization coverage, digital health, maternal health, emergency preparedness and response, and access to vaccines, medicines, and other health technologies.

Among the major issues to be discussed and considered for adoption are Strategy for Strengthening Health Emergency and Risk Management for Health Security 2026-2031, aimed at enhancing preparedness, detection, and response to epidemics, disasters, and other health emergencies as well as the Plan of Action on Antimicrobial Resistance 2027-2031, designed to accelerate action against one of the Region’s growing public health threats through a One Health approach.

The meeting will also discuss the Integrated Management Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Arboviral Diseases 2026-2035, intended to strengthen responses to diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Oropouche as well as the Strategy and Plan of Action on Food Safety 2026-2031, aimed at strengthening national food safety systems and reducing the burden of foodborne diseases.

Delegates will also review reports on the implementation of the PAHO Strategic Plan 2020-2025, the Organization’s financial situation, implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR), the PAHO Forward initiative, and progress on disease elimination, One Health, cervical cancer, health promotion, genomic surveillance, and data science.

Health in the Americas

During the week, PAHO will launch Health in the Americas 2026: Prioritizing Avertable Disease Burden to Maximize Impact, the latest edition of the Organization’s flagship publication. The report examines the leading causes of disability and premature mortality in the region, analyzes health financing trends, and identifies the interventions that offer the greatest potential to improve health outcomes and guide public health decision-making.

Following the Directing Council, Ministers of Health and national delegations will participate in additional governance meetings including the 78th Session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Americas and the 179th Session of PAHO’s Executive Committee.

A special briefing session, ‘Reforming the Global Health Architecture,’ will take place on October 2, focusing on challenges and opportunities to strengthen global health cooperation and governance.