(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown,
Guyana) In its quest to eradicate poverty, the
Caribbean Region must reorient its fiscal systems as
well as move its production systems away from
preferential treatment.
This was the view articulated by The Right Hon.
Owen Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados, in his
keynote address at the opening of the Conference on
the Caribbean on 19 June 2007 at the Preston Hall,
World Bank, Washington DC.
The change in the status of preferential
arrangements, he said, was the greatest
manifestation of the changes circumstances within
which the Region was operating.
He told the opening plenary that Caribbean
Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government had
journeyed to the United States in the belief that
the Conference on the Caribbean would mark the
beginning of a fresh, more productive phase in
relations between CARICOM and the US.
The Barbados Prime Minister, who has lead
responsibility for the CARICOM Single Market and
Economy (CSME), referred to the harshness of the
global environment that made Caribbean growth and
development a challenge. Those challenges, he said,
were made more complex by security and environmental
threats, among others.
As an alternative to protection, a new enterprise
culture must be created and sustained in order to
boost competition. In addition, he stressed, the
State should not retreat, but become more
entrepreneurial.
Itemising essential steps the Region must take to
eradicate poverty and unemployment, the Prime
Minister said the Region must stay the course of
restructuring; engage in creative development
diplomacy and enhance the process of sustainable
relations through the CSME.
The other keynote speaker at the opening plenary
was US Secretary of Commerce, Carlos Gutierrez who
also underscored the need for the Region to create a
stronger climate within which businesses can develop
and strive.
He referred to the vibrant and vital relationship
between CARICOM and the US as well as the shared
challenges of countries in the hemisphere.
Contact:
piu@caricom.org
