Local representatives of Caricom and the UN yesterday convened a meeting aimed at facilitating a more responsive programme of cooperation between the two institutions.
Declaring the two-day fourth general UN/Caricom meeting open at Caricom Headquarters, Deputy Caricom Secretary-General Lolita Applewhaite told delegates that among the many challenges which Caribbean states face, was the daunting task of countering the threats and accessing the promises of the evolving global reality on behalf of the Caribbean people. In this vein, she lauded the efforts of the community’s global partners like the UN.
Quoting from a UN General Assembly recommendation, she noted that the meeting was being held “in order to review and appraise progress in the implementation of the agreed areas and issues and to hold consultations on such additional measures and procedures as may be required to facilitate and strengthen co-operation between the two organisations.”
She said Caricom was responding to the challenges through ambitious integration architecture – the Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the UN continues to faithfully accompany the community as it strengthens itself to face the “treacherous currents of the global sea change that is globalization.”
The UN, she added, has been supportive of Caricom’s efforts to implement the CSME and thereby respond to the global environment.
She alluded, too, to the UN’s ongoing assistance to Caricom sister state Haiti in its rebuilding and reconstruction programme.
UN Assistant Secretary General in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs Kwame Sundaram Jomo is heading the UN delegation which consists of representatives from various UN entities.
He read a statement on behalf of the UN Secretary General which acknowledged that Caricom is an important contributor to the UN’s work in the Caribbean region.
“The UN, for its part, remains strongly committed to helping your members address concerns like poverty, drug trafficking, crime and HIV/AIDS,” he said.
He told members of the forum too that a free and fair international trading system is an economic necessity and noted that nothing else had the same potential to advance the cause of development across the globe and help lift millions of people in the Caribbean and beyond, out of grinding poverty.
He congratulated the region for what he termed, “bold steps” to enhance trade competitiveness, strengthen Caribbean economies, attract new investments and improve domestic capabilities to address pressing social needs.
The UN delegation head pledged his organization’s support for Caricom as the CSME initiative moves ahead and noted too that it will work with Caricom to ensure capacity, diversification of exports and avoid the perils of protectionism.
The meeting concludes today.
