This archive report was first published on 10 August 2019.
On August 10, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta met with leaders of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) in Bridgetown, Barbados, to discuss closer cooperation between Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
Kenya is seeking the Caribbean community's support for its bid to join the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member for the 2021 to 2022 term.
President Kenyatta emphasized the importance of the UN Security Council in maintaining international peace and security, stating, "Kenya's candidature is informed by the critical role the UN Security Council plays in the maintenance of international peace and security."
He also assured that Kenya will continue to play a leading role in peace, security, and conflict management in the Horn of Africa region and other parts of the world.
During the meeting, President Kenyatta asked the OECS to support Kenya's bid to host the Global Service Delivery Model (GSDM) as recommended by the UN Secretary General.
He noted that Kenya was chosen as the host after meeting the threshold for space, qualified personnel, employees' safety, location, and affordable costs.
President Kenyatta also called on Eastern Caribbean States to establish diplomatic missions in Kenya and for the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) and UN-Habitat to facilitate frequent consultations and follow-up on environmental and human settlement matters.
Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley praised the meeting, saying it opened a new chapter of cooperation between Kenya and the Caribbean.
President Kenyatta highlighted the importance of trade, investment, tourism, and cultural cooperation between the two regions, suggesting a regional Free Trade Area (FTA) under World Trade Organization rules.
He also emphasized the need for regular consultations and cooperation between ACP countries, saying, "Let us work, invest, develop, and deal with global challenges together as a group. We must strive to speak with one voice."
