EUROPEAN UNION (EU) President Ursula von der Leyen and UN head Antonio Guterres both urged Caribbean nations to unite in advocating for peace and for steps to take against climate change, speaking on February 19 at the Caricom 48th Regular Meeting of Heads of Government in Barbados.

Earlier outgoing Caricom chairman, Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell had vowed, "I am not going to live on Mars," as he urged a partnership for action against climate change. Saying the region has been used as a lab experiment, he said, "This is not a time to allow for might is right and for the powerful and wealthy to say they can take what they want, when they want, where they want or how they want."

Mitchell called for reparations for the transatlantic slave trade, promising to take up this issue with the EU head.