Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has urged African and Caribbean leaders to move beyond “eloquence in speeches” and act with courage and unity to deliver on promises of cooperation.

Speaking at the 2nd Africa–CARICOM Summit in Addis Ababa, Mr Browne said too often hesitation and complacency had paralysed efforts to bring the two regions closer together. “Too often, eloquence in speeches has not been matched by courage in deeds,” he told the gathering. “Let this summit be remembered as the moment we turned the tide.”

Mr Browne called on leaders to choose “unity over fragmentation, action over inertia, and courage over complacency,” urging them to seize the opportunity to make Africa–Caribbean collaboration a reality.

His remarks came as the summit focused on strengthening ties through trade, investment, education and transport links, alongside joint demands for reparations. Mr Browne said progress on all fronts would depend on political will.

“Our ancestors endured bondage without choice. We, their descendants, now hold the power to choose,” he said. “Will we remain complacent, waiting for validation from others? Or will we choose courage, charting our own destiny?”

The Prime Minister’s message was clear: unity and decisive action, rather than hesitation, must shape the next phase of Africa–Caribbean relations.