Cayman Hosts Successful Caribbean Postal Conference

By: Hayley Reid

Over 50 representatives from 23-member countries attended the successful 26th annual Caribbean Postal Union Conference and Caribbean Council of Ministers for Postal Affairs Meeting, in Grand Cayman from 3-7 June. The prestigious event, hosted by the Ministry of Border, Control, Labour & Culture and the Cayman Islands Postal Service, provided insights into fostering inclusivity and enhancing the postal services across the region.

The conference, which was held at the Marriott Grand Cayman Resort under the theme, “Promoting Inclusion, Reinforcing Relevance,” provided an opportunity for post office executives to engage with each other, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) leadership and private-sector stakeholders who shape the future of postal inclusion in the Caribbean region.

It featured panel discussions, and workshops led by industry experts on a number of topics including enhancing global connectivity and cooperation in the postal services, innovations in the global postal ecosystem, building resilience and inclusivity, Universal Postal Union technology, among other areas.

Director of the Universal Postal Union Director General Masahiko Metoki, who was in attendance participated in the opening ceremony and closing summit alongside Governor Jane Owen, Minister of Border Control, Labour and Culture, Hon. Dwayne Seymour and Deputy Governor Hon. Franz Manderson.

During the summit, the UPU launched its series of Global Regional Strategy Forums, marking the first of six regional meetings aimed at gathering local input on the UPU’s draft strategy and identifying priorities for the 2026-2029 cycle. The results from these forums will shape the final strategy to be discussed at the 28th Universal Postal Union Congress to be held in Dubai, 2025.

One of the decisions made during the conference was to modernise the Caribbean Postal Union constitution. A task force led by Bermuda, with members from the United States, Canada, and Cayman Islands, will finalise a modernised draft by the end of 2024. Additionally, during the 20th Caribbean Council of Ministers Meeting, chaired by Hon Dwayne Seymour, the council approved the four recommendations of the Regional Strategy and Implementation Plan for Postal and Courier Services developed by the CARICOM Secretariat and the CPU.

Postmaster General of the Cayman Islands Postal Service, Sheena Glasgow expressed her pride in her team for hosting the successful events, “I am incredibly proud of the dedication and months of hard work that our team put into making this conference a triumph. Their countless hours of preparation and commitment truly paid off, resulting in an event that saw several “firsts” at these regional conferences, as well as established a new standard of conference organization for future host countries. There was a larger team comprised of more than seven other Government entities that each contributed in different ways to the successful events.  The Postal Service could not have successfully done its part without the services of these entities whose contributions, ranged from protocol, security, delegates’ gifts, transportation, to opening ceremonies addresses, to name just a few.”

Last week’s event also featured two memorable social receptions. The first, hosted at the residence of Her Excellency Governor Jane Owen, provided an elegant setting for delegates to connect. Governor Owen awarded Deputy Postmaster General Melissa Martinez-Ebanks His Majesty the King’s Certificate and Badge of Honour for her services to the Cayman Islands Postal Service. The second reception at Nurse Josie’s in Bodden Town offered a vibrant cultural experience with traditional dishes, local music, and performances, allowing attendees to immerse themselves in Caymanian heritage.

The conference concluded with the election of Postmaster General of Bermuda, Samuel Brangman as the new CPU Secretary General. A new Caribbean Postal Union Management Board was elected with representatives from Barbados, Cayman Islands, France, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad.