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CARICOM Heads of Government Communique SILENT on NCDs and HLM4
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Open Letter
CARICOM Heads of Government
In Response to the Official Communique of the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government July 6-8, 2025, Montego Bay, Jamaica
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July 23, 2025
The President and the Board of Directors of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) note with disappointment the distinct absence of any mention of non-communicable disease (NCDs) and the upcoming 4th United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health (HLM4) which will be held on September 25th, 2025 in New York during the 80th Meeting of the UN General Assembly under the theme “Equity and Integration: Transforming Lives and Livelihoods through Leadership and Action on Noncommunicable Diseases and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being.”
In HCCs Open Letter, we recalled the historical legacy of CARICOM leadership, engagement and participation in previous UN HLMs on NCDs, and called on CARICOM Leaders to deliver on five (5) key civil society asks
- Commit to continued leadership on NCD prevention and control and commit to attendance at the 4th UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health (HLM4) on September 25th, 2025 in the official Communiqué emerging from the Forty-Ninth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
- To Support the twelve Caribbean civil-society led advocacy priorities for inclusion in the official Communiqué from the Forty-Ninth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community and in the HLM4 Political Declaration [1].
- Support one or more CARICOM Heads of Government or State to have a lead role in at least one of the multi-stakeholder panels at the HLM4.
- Support the hosting of a high-level side-event on the margins of the HLM4 led by CARICOM Heads of Government and State as was done in past UN HLMs on NCDs.
- Endorse the inclusion of a representative from a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) representing people living with NCDs and a youth representative in country delegations to the HLM4 in recognition of the whole-of-society response to NCDs.
Although Dr. Carla Barnett, the Secretary General of CARICOM, highlighted the HLM4 in her opening remarks and urged CARICOM Heads of Government and State to attend, the HLM4 was absent on the meeting’s agenda, raising concerns around the political priority of NCDs at the highest levels of decision-making in CARICOM. In stark contrast, in 2018, in lead up to the 3rd UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health, in the Communique of the Thirty-Ninth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM Heads endorsed regional NCD advocacy priorities and commended civil society organisations for their efforts in NCD prevention and control. CARICOM Heads then went on to host a highly successful side-event on the day of the HLM3 attended by the Director General of the WHO and the Secretary General of CARICOM.
The HLM4 comes at a critical time, 18 years after the Declaration of Port of Spain and 5 years away from the 2030 SDGs. If the recent Conference of Heads of Government is any indicator of political will, we are in a troubling state. CARICOM countries are grossly off track when it comes to NCD targets – as evidenced by the WHO NCD Progress Monitor 2025 and the 2024 POS NCD Summit Grid Report. A recent opinion editorial penned by health civil society organisations across the region, begged the question – What does health in a secure and sustainable future look like? Within the context of aging and contracting populations and increasing economic and climate vulnerabilities, a secure and sustainable future for the Caribbean is unachievable without high-level political action on NCDs.
Just about 2 months shy of the HLM4, there is still time for CARICOM Heads of Government and State to demonstrate leadership and commitment to this global agenda which will have country-level impact. Three of HCCs five Asks are still achievable – HLM4 participation, hosting of an HLM4 side event, and endorsing CSO/youth representation in country HLM4 delegations.
CARICOM has been globally recognised for its leadership on NCDs, including most recently with the 2023 Bridgetown Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health. As Member States meet in New York on September 25th, 2025 for the HLM4, let us collectively demonstrate the leadership of CARICOM. Now is the Time to Lead Again.
Dr. Kenneth Connell, HCC President On behalf of the Board of Directors and members of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition
[1] 1. Engage communities and put people first in the NCD response.; 2. Address the commercial determinants of health and conflict of interest; 3. Accelerate the implementation of healthy food environment environments; 4. Promote full implementation of the WHO FCTC and the WHO MPOWER measures; 5. Enhance physical activity across multiple settings; 6. Accelerate the implementation of WHO SAFER alcohol harm reduction measures; 7. Expand, integrate and strengthen mental health services; 8. Eradicate cervical cancer, and reduce illness and premature death due to breast, prostate and colon cancers; 9. Strengthen health systems using equity-, rights-based, and climate-resilient approaches; 10. Breakdown silos, foster networking enhance collaboration; 11. Mobilize investment, with resource allocation and mobilization strategies for sustainable financing of NCD prevention and control interventions; and 12.Strengthen accountability, mechanisms, metrics and related data collection, analysis, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting at all levels.
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Webinar: CARICOM Regional Stakeholder Meeting
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In recognition of the Fourth United Nations High Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health (HLM4) to be held on 25 September 2025 and the 18th anniversary of the seminal CARICOM Heads of Government Port of Spain Declaration, "Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic NCDs", the HCC is hosting a high-level meeting of stakeholders, which aims to: Reflect on progress on NCDs in the Caribbean since the 2007 Port of Spain Declaration.
Discuss the challenges, successes and lessons learned in the regional NCD response drawing on wider experiences from non-Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and beyond.
Explore NCD priorities needed within CARICOM to accelerate meaningful action on NCDs – actions which prevent new NCDs and improve the lives of people living with NCDs in lead up to and beyond the HLM4.
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Beyond Personal Responsibility: Tackling Industry Influence in Caribbean School Environments
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Schools are meant to be places of learning and growth, where children develop not just academically but also physically and emotionally. They should be environments that nurture healthy habits and protect young minds. Yet across the region, many of our schools inadvertently support and even promote unhealthy diets. Branded sports gear, canteens filled with unhealthy snacks, and sponsored events have turned schools into marketing playgrounds for food products proven to harm health. We are often told by industry, media, and even some policymakers that it’s all about personal responsibility and that we simply need to make better decisions. But what kind of choice are we really giving children when their school environments are flooded with marketing, shaped by brand influence, and filled with products that undermine their health?
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The Population and Societal Benefit of Increasing the Drinking Age from 18 to 21 in Developing Countries
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Authors (L to R) Professor Rohan Maharaj, Alcohol Policy Advisor, The Healthy Caribbean Coalition, Dr James Hospedales, CEO and Founder of the EarthMedic and EarthNurse Foundation for Planetary Health, Dr Kenneth Connell, President, The Healthy Caribbean Coalition and Mr. Ronnie Bissessar, SC President, Trinidad and Tobago Heart Foundation
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The Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) and its local members, the Trinidad and Tobago Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance (TTNCDA) and the Trinidad and Tobago Heart Foundation (TTHF), would like to publicly endorse the announcement on 7th July 2025 by the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) of their intent to raise the minimum legal drinking age from 18 to 21. Our analysis of regional regulations and laws indicates that there are no English-speaking Caribbean countries with regulations on the age of consumption. However, there are regulations on the age at which alcohol could be purchased for either on- or off-premises consumption. As such, this is new ground, and the debate on this legislation should also include the issue of legal purchasing age for on- or off- premises consumption. This move is supported by the local research literature. The National Alcohol Survey of Household in Trinidad and Tobago revealed that 80% of households would support increasing the drinking age to 21 years.
This announcement by the GORTT is timely given the 2023 WHO’s declaration that ‘No amount of alcohol consumption is safe for our health”. Alcohol contributes to cancer, addiction, road traffic accidents, interpersonal violence, absenteeism, occupational injuries, noncommunicable diseases and a range of mental health conditions. This move in the T&T setting can significantly enhance public health, reduce youth mortality, support improved mental health among young people and promote long-term societal benefits. Other jurisdictions have already adapted this strategy including many parts of the USA, several parts of India and Egypt. Uganda has announced plans to do so. In the USA, the legal purchasing age in all states is 21. But there are exceptions in many states based on family and location, where drinking is permitted.
Across the Caribbean, the PAHO Stepwise surveys report that about one-third of households and populations use alcohol in a harmful manner. And many Caribbean youth (more than 40% of drinkers in some national surveys) use alcohol in a hazardous way through binge drinking (5 or more standard drinks in a 2-hour sitting). Early initiation into alcohol use is associated with increased risk of long-term dependency and educational underachievement. Raising the minimum legal drinking age delays alcohol initiation, helping protect brain development during adolescence and reduce alcohol-related violence. This is particularly critical in regions with limited healthcare and law enforcement infrastructure.
Adopting a minimum legal drinking age of 21, has been shown to reduce motor vehicle accidents; however, the evidence also shows that the laws must be enforced. There should be widespread national dissemination of this new law and its provisions including education of retailers and servers at rum shops, bars and restaurants, and key interest groups including youth. There should also be discussion on the implications for its flaunting.
This new approach should be the first of many strategies on preventing harm from the use of alcohol among the population in general, and particularly among youth. Other interventions include taxation reforms on alcohol, reducing availability, and cessation of the marketing of alcohol. These interventions are part of the WHO’s evidence-based S.A.F.E.R. initiative that offer cost-effective, population-wide strategies to reduce harm from alcohol.
The HCC and its local members including the Trinidad and Tobago Heart Foundation (TTHF) and the Trinidad and Tobago Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance (TTNCDA) applaud this initiative, which the HCC anticipates will provide an impetus for other Caribbean nations to follow suit.
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The Wellness Effect Podcast Series
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A video podcast series designed to educate our communities about the dangers of NCDs.
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PAHO Director and CARICOM Secretary-General Sign 2025–2029 Joint Subregional Cooperation Strategy To Advance Health and Equity in the Caribbean
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Dr. Carla N. Barnett, CARICOM Secretary-General (left) and Dr. Jarbas Barbosa da Silva Jr, PAHO Director
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The Joint Subregional Cooperation Strategy that will provide a coordinated framework for technical cooperation to address common public health challenges in the Caribbean was signed 22 July, 2025 by the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa and Dr. Carla N. Barnett, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
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HCC Team Attends World Bank Workshop in Saint Lucia
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Sheena Warner-Edwards, HCC Communications Officer (Left) and Dr Kenneth Connell HCC President, pictured at the World Bank Workshop in Saint Lucia
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The World Bank and The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs, Saint Lucia hosted a workshop – Caribbean Regional Technical Workshop, Tackling NCDs and Mental Health from June 23 – 26 in Saint Lucia. Dr. Kenneth Connell, HCC President and Mrs. Sheena Warner-Edwards, HCC Communications Officer were invited to attend. The workshop sought to develop shared understanding of key challenges and opportunities, drawing on recent evidence to address NCDs and mental health and promote healthy ageing to inform a shift towards more integrated primary healthcare approaches across the life course. It also sought to discuss the value of multisectoral and systems-based approaches as well as considering cross-cutting themes required for effective NCD prevention and control across the life course including through key health system enablers and learn from country experiences on developing and implementing multisectoral approaches (e.g. models of care, sustainable financing of NCDs, access to affordable drugs, availability of human resources for health, leveraging digital health and data for decision making.
Through The World Bank Team, regional organisations including the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), CARICOM Secretariat, Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), OECS Commission and Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) were able to facilitate dialogue with government stakeholders as health, finance, agriculture and some trade, of all grades from Grenada, Guyana, Belize, Jamaica and host Saint Lucia took part in the workshop.
HCC President sat down with Minister of Health, The Honourable Moses Jn Baptiste to chat about the numerous efforts being implemented to combat NCDs, advanced by the country of Saint Lucia. Minister Jn Baptiste brought to the forefront the conversation around leveraging Caribbean culture and health, to support the required healthier lifestyle changes through a Caribbean Civilisation lens.
St. Lucia Moves got much attention as the delegates in attendance were able to wear their sneakers on National Sneaker Day, led by the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs.
At the end of workshop country teams produced solid road maps, identifying key actions, including policy and investment need. They will implement these key actions on a short term and long term timeframe. The Healthy Caribbean Coalition looks forward to continued work with each country and regional organisations as we amp up the efforts to reduce the burden of NCDs across the Caribbean region. This year is a significant year as the United Nations High Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health will take place on September 25th, 2025 in New York. Country leaders are reminded that it is time to lead again!
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Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton
Photo: Jamaica Observer
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Health warning One in every four Jamaicans living with at least one chronic illness
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Healthy Caribbean Coalition President Dr Kenneth Connell Photo: Barbados Today (FP)
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Health Advocates Urge CARICOM Leaders To Renew Fight Against NCDs, Mental Health Crisis
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What Does Health in a Secure and Sustainable Future Look Like? CARICOM’s Time to Lead Again on NCDs
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St. Kitts and Nevis Among Top Five for NCD-Related Deaths, Says PAHO
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PAHO/WHO and the Ministry of Health and Wellness Join Forces To Strengthen Mental Health Services in Belize
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Webinar: Best Buys To Reduce Risks, Prevent NCDs and Promote Health.
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Noncommunicable Disease Deaths in the Americas Have Risen 43% Since 2000, PAHO Report Shows.
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The United Nations Political Declaration on Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health Needs a Just and Action Driven Approach.
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Major Storm on the Horizon: NCDs and Mental Health Conditions To Cost South America Trillions by 2050.
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JOIN the Healthy Caribbean Coalition
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- Be Supported and Empowered
- Amplify the Impact
- Build a Partnership with other CSO’s in your country and the region
- Keep Up to Date
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WHO Launches Bold Push To Raise Health Taxes and Save Millions of Lives
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Nigeria Adopts Food Labels to Fight Non-Communicable Diseases
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In Kenya, 90% of Packaged Food Needs Health Warning Label Under New Rules
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Healthy Caribbean Coalition - Salt Reduction Campaign
14 December 2010
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- Tackling root causes of NCDs for health equity
- Systems that save lives: new publication spotlighting good practices of health system strengthening for NCDs
- BLOG: Advancing regional NCD advocacy in Asia
- BLOG: Prioritising UHC, Health Equity, and Participatory Governance in the HLM4 Political Declaration
- Podcast spotlighting NCD voices from Africa
- NCD financing in a graphic story
- New Leadership Dialogue: Why leadership matters for people with lived experience
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Open Letters & Statements
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Safeguarding Public Health Nutrition in the Caribbean During Emergencies: Guidelines for Managing Donations from the Commercial Sector
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HCC-led Caribbean Advocacy Priorities for the Fourth UN High-level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (HLM4)
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The 3rd UN High-level Meeting on NCDs
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The HCC is a regional network of Caribbean health NGOs and civil society organizations with the remit to combat chronic diseases (NCDs) and their associated risk factors and conditions. Our membership presently consists of more than 85 Caribbean-based health NGOs and over 55 not-for-profit organisations and, in excess of 200 individual members based in the Caribbean and across the globe.
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We value the protection and confidentiality of your personal data and we are committed to respecting your privacy. We therefore comply with the applicable data privacy legislation in relation to processing personal data. Read our privacy policy.
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The work of HCC would not be possible without core funding from Sagicor Life Inc.
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The HCC promote the work of civil society throughout the Caribbean in a variety of ways including sharing of their materials, this is not an endorsement of their materials or messages. The information contained in this newsletter is for general information purposes only, we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct but any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. Through this newsletter you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of the HCC. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
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© 2025 Healthy Caribbean Coalition
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