On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 the PJ Patterson Institute for Africa-Caribbean Public Advocacy at The UWI hosted a symposium themed “Strengthening Cooperation Between African & Caribbean States: Facing the Challenges, Creating Solutions.” The event facilitated sharing ideas, experiences, and best practices while also developing a framework for advancing collaboration between African and Caribbean entities, researchers, and, where possible, policy-makers. Positioned as a hybrid event, the symposium took place at the E. Nigel Harris Council Room at The UWI’s Regional Headquarters in Jamaica.

Renewed efforts by African and Caribbean countries are underway to broaden, deepen, and accelerate functional cooperation across a wide array of development- related areas. Launched in June 2020, the PJ Patterson Institute was established to build bridges between CARICOM and African States through academic exchanges and collaborations with institutions following a specialised institutional agreement. The Institute is led by the Most Honourable PJ Patterson, former Prime Minister of Jamaica, who serves as the Statesman in Residence at The UWI.

Advancing its mandate, the PJ Patterson Institute sought to initiate public dialogue within the region on pertinent issues like climate change, information technology, and innovation. During the opening session of the symposium, remarks were delivered by the Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados; the Most Hon. PJ Patterson, Statesman-in-Residence, PJ Patterson Centre for Africa-Caribbean Advocacy at The UWI; Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister of Jamaica; Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of The UWI; and H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairman of The Brenthurst Foundation and former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The plenaries included engaging panel discussions on topics such as “Climate Change Mitigation Strategies: Opportunities for Africa and the Caribbean” and “Information Technology and Innovation,” featuring presentations from Dr. Carla Barnett, Secretary-General of CARICOM, Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of OECS, among others.

The symposium effectively underscored the importance of cross-regional cooperation and shared solutions for a more sustainable future.