At the opening of the second Africa-CARICOM summit in this capital, the president noted that it is possible to create a transcontinental alliance between nations that experienced colonialism and slavery, with the aim of strengthening the fight for restorative justice worldwide.
“We must strive to move toward decisions that allow us to achieve our goals,” he noted, calling for laying the groundwork for the use of available tools in the field of reparations, such as the Afro-Caribbean Restorative Justice Mechanism and the Global Fund for Reparations.
He emphasized that working together is the key to achieving the development and well-being of present and future generations of Africans and people of African descent, as well as ending the cycle of poverty that still plagues these countries and regions.
Lourenço noted that progress has been made, such as the establishment of the AfreximBank office in the Caribbean, which opens new opportunities for trade and investment; and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the African Union and the Caribbean Community in September 2024 to strengthen cooperation in trade, transportation, and education, among others.
However, there are still pending commitments, which is why he advocated for a clear roadmap to implement issues such as a Joint Communications and Media Platform, the signing of a Multilateral Air Services Agreement, in addition to reviewing visa regimes and establishing direct flights between Africa and the Caribbean.
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