Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have committed to reviewing a series of proposals designed to tackle the issues arising from the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis as part of their general agreement on a way forward in the Community’s battle against the pandemic.
According to a CARICOM release, this action was taken during a Special Emergency Meeting yesterday via video conference.
All fifteen Member States and the five Associate Members were represented at the virtual meeting.
The Leaders received presentations from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the University of the West Indies (UWI), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and Archbishop Jason Gordon – a Roman Catholic Prelate and current Archbishop of Port of Spain.
Executive Director of CARPHA, Dr Joy St John, said that the Region had done fairly well in its response to the pandemic, owing to the early implementation of measures which helped to contain the virus. She recommended a coordinated approach as the Region prepares for the next phase of the virus.
The CDB outlined the economic implications the pandemic would have for the Community and presented ideas for stimulating economic activity in the future, while the researchers from the UWI included projections for the future of the virus in the Region in their presentation.
Archbishop Gordon spoke to the social impact of the COVID-19 and offered ideas to alleviate those challenges.
Heads of Government agreed on a collective approach to the International Financial Institutions in accessing assistance to meet the financial fiscal challenges arising from the crisis. They urged that the criterion of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per capita should not be the sole consideration in assessing the needs of the Community and that “an understanding of each country’s vulnerability is a far better measurement to determine need especially as we face multiple challenges.”
They agreed that additional technical work would be undertaken in specific areas to be presented for their consideration at another meeting within two weeks, after the relevant ministerial councils would have reviewed the proposals.
Among the proposals put forward was one on a Common Health Policy which would first be presented to the Ministers of Health. This would include proposals for joint procurement which it was felt would assist in addressing supply constraints being experienced especially for supplies of pharmaceuticals, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the sourcing of additional medical personnel.
Also to be considered is a proposal for a protocol on re-opening borders which all Member States would adhere to at the same time when such a decision is taken.
With regard to the issues related to Food Security, the decision was taken to have it considered in the context of the CARICOM COVID-19 Agri-Food Risk Management Framework which has been circulated to Member States following a meeting of Ministers of Agriculture last month. This would address in particular the production and supply of food products.
On the subject of transportation of people and goods by air and sea inter-regionally, this matter would be carefully examined with particular reference to the operations of the regional air carriers which have been adversely affected by the measures adopted to contain the virus.
It was also decided to formulate proposals for building a robust digital architecture, including governance, to facilitate digital commerce and to assist in the fight against the coronavirus.
The Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE) which recently met, has been considering the threats to security during the course of the pandemic and its recommendations would also come before the Heads of Government.
On the matter of Cuba and Venezuela, the Heads of Government called for the lifting of sanctions on humanitarian grounds as it was agreed that all countries must be part of the global effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. They were also of the view that it was regrettable that resources for the World Health Organization were being threatened at a time when all must join in leading the fight against the pandemic.
