 Chepusun, Yuru Kenyatta, colegates of state and government, Chepusun of the African Union Commission, Secretary-General of CARICOM, distinguished guests. While we are separated across land and sea, we have so much in common, including the rich culture and diversity, and our people as a fundamental asset for progress and achievement. I announced on August 1, 2021, in my inaugural annual Emancipation Day address, four days after student office, that my administration plans to take Caribbean's real African history to schools, and to make Emancipation Day, or really a holiday, a major annual event on a national calendar. As I said then, we strongly believe that why slavery was abolished over a century ago, the mindset and racial attitudes that brought African people to the Caribbean and the Americas still linger. I assure that this historic first gathering of African-Caribbean leaders that under my watch, solutions will have good reason to remember the struggles of our forefathers, while preserved and protecting the heritage they left us. And today is only the beginning, over 143 years later, but it's never too late to start. My administration also welcomes this ready platform for communication, cooperation, coordination between Africa and the Caribbean to share COVID-19 experiences and develop mechanisms to help reduce our common dependence on equal vaccine distribution. This is stark living reminder of the inequalities of the system. Having to import 10 times more pharmaceuticals than reproduced in the Caribbean, and our regional vaccination levels are only between 50 and 23%. We also support the recent initiative announced by POW to create a platform to increase regional vaccine manufacturing production. Unfortunately, we also share particularly vulnerability to the ravages of climate change. This means that inevitably we are all invested in securing sustained global action to arrest and reverse this scourge. In this regard, close cooperation between smaller and developing states, African countries and other developing states was instrumental in securing the 2015 Paris Agreement and the 1.5 target for global temperature increase. In light of the climate emergency, the pursuit of a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the critical decisions to be made at the 26 conference of parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP26 It is essential that the flame of collaboration kindled in Paris be found vigorously in Glasgow in November of this year in order to ensure that the international community and in particular industrialized nations manifest a level of climate ambition that will secure the safety of the planet and the survival of our countries. Our countries must also continue to work under the banner of non-ANXI developing countries in the negotiating group of 77 and China. Thus far, we have collaborated and strengthened our voices, having common positions on such fundamental issues as finance adaptation, loss and damage. In the area of finance, it is imperative that we speak with one voice under the operating entities or the financial mechanism. The vision simply retards progress for both our regions, something we can elephone in a process where we can only move forward with consensus. Our regions must also maximize possibilities for collaboration outside of international arrangements, exploring areas such as technology, capacity building, research exchanges and formal education opportunities. There is so much that we can learn from each other. Already within the climate change context, the African Union's agenda 2063 is consonants with Karikom's agenda as you prioritize environmentally sustainable and climate resilient economies and communities. We are aware that you have committed to active a sense of urgency on climate change and environment with a focus on climate technology, women and youth, sustainable forest management and climate resilient agriculture among others. As we forge ahead, the Caribbean community looks forward to deeper and more meaningful collections with the continent of Africa working together in achieving the developmental aspirations of our nations and our people. I thank you Mr President.