(Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) – Technical experts from across the Caribbean gathered in Georgetown, Guyana on March 25, 2026, for the Third Meeting of the Technical Advisory Group of CARICOM Institutions on Ocean Matters (TAGCOM).
Held in the margins of the 124th Special COTED-Environment and Sustainable Development, this pivotal one-day working session, focused on advancing regional coherence for ocean governance, through the review and implementation of the draft CARICOM Ocean Policy (COP).
Supported with funding from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UKFCDO), the meeting serves as a critical step in overcoming fragmented, siloed approaches to marine management. TAGCOM, established to provide coordinated, ecosystem-based technical guidance, is positioned as the central “engine” for guiding the Policy’s implementation across the region.
“This session allowed TAGCOM to deliver targeted, high-value inputs that will shape the finalization of the Policy and begin crafting of its Implementation Plan,” stated Mr. Kareem Sabir, Deputy Programme Manager, Sustainable Development at the CARICOM Secretariat.
Key objectives of the meeting included:
- Technical Validation: Conducting a structured review of the draft Policy’s vision, goals, and strategic pillars.
- Policy Alignment: Ensuring the new framework harmonizes with existing regional policies, such as the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy (CCCFP) and the Eastern Caribbean Regional Ocean Policy (ECROP), to avoid duplication of mandates.
- Implementation Mapping: Defining institutional roles and sequencing priority actions for the first 24 months of the Policy.
The TAGCOM was chaired by the CARICOM Secretariat with participation from participating institutions, the OECS Commission; Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE), CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and The University of the West Indies (The UWI). The outcomes of this session, including consolidated recommendations and a preliminary alignment map, will help shape the second draft of the CARICOM Ocean Policy.
About TAGCOM: The Technical Advisory Group of CARICOM Institutions on Ocean Matters (TAGCOM) provides overarching policy guidance to Member States on emerging issues of importance in regional ocean spaces and supports the development of comprehensive maritime and ocean policies.