Business View Caribbean | Volume 9, Issue 1

9 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 Dec. 20, 2021 T he joy of this festive period is once again tempered by the continuing onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the year, our immediate concern has been how best to secure lives and livelihoods in our Member States, as the virus’ lingering presence slows the recovery of the economic and social well-being of the people of our Community. The primary focus has been on acquiring sufficient vaccines to save lives and allow for the revival of economic activity. With the assistance primarily of the Governments of India, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, as well as our provisions under the COVAX Facility and the highly appreciated accommodation of the African Union through the African Medical END OF YEAR MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM) DR CARLA N. BARNETT Supplies Platform, a significant supply of vaccines has been made available. Our Heads of Government, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the CARICOM Secretariat are working tirelessly to maintain an adequate supply of doses. We have also been looking at life beyond COVID-19. The CARICOM Commission on the Economy, comprising a group of eminent regional and international experts, provided advice on approaches to building resilience and on the return of CARICOM economies to a path of sustainable growth and development, including a 12-Point Action Plan in its Report entitled “Caribbean 9:58”. . Priority was also accorded to agriculture and tourism, given the adverse impact of the pandemic on those sectors. A Special Ministerial Task Force on Food Production and Food OPENING L INES