The secretaries-general of the Caricom Secretariat, the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and the Central American Integration System (SICA) met to examine the scope for further strengthening coordination among their secretariats, on the heels of the conclusion of the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago.
A press release from Caricom said in this regard and “in the spirit of their respective mandates” the respective secretaries-general — Edwin Carrington, Juan Daniel Aleman, and Luis Fernando Andrade — exchanged opinions regarding their common objectives. They also agreed on matters indicative of their commitment to ensuring greater collaboration in the thematic areas to their organizations, which demonstrate the links shared among Caricom, the ACS and SICA.
The secretaries-general agreed to promote increased coordination among the three secretariats and to establish focal points in their respective organisations that will coordinate the follow-up to the SICA-Caricom Plan of Action.
These focal points would provide regular status reports on the implementation and advancement of the plan, the release said.
The secretaries-general also agreed to host consultations among their organisations, particularly regarding issues of priority interest to both Caricom and the SICA regions including the international financial crisis, regional security and climate change.
They also agreed to promote greater participation by the ACS Secretariat in the development of the SICA-Caricom Plan of Action, especially about matters related to the environment, natural disasters, trade and investments, air transport, tourism and the Caribbean Sea.
Further, the secretaries-general agreed to encourage increased participation by Caribbean and Central American entrepreneurs in developing initiatives in both regions as well as greater coordination with the ACS, SICA and Caricom Secretariats.
They also concurred on the importance of ensuring the holding of the Third Summit of Heads of State and Government of SICA and Caricom in Managua, Nicaragua. In this regard they agreed to consult their respective regions with a view to holding the Summit before the end of June 2009.
In addition, they expressed appreciation to the Representative of the President Pro Tempore of SICA, and to the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States, for their participation in the meeting and for their continued support of the ACS, Caricom and SICA Secretariats.
