Your Excellency, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, President of Guyana
Distinguished Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community
Distinguished Secretary General of the Caribbean Community
The Most Honourable P. J. Patterson, Former Prime Minister of Jamaica
Ministers of Government of Guyana
Ministers of other CARICOM Governments
Honourable Members of the Judiciary
Distinguished Delegations from CARICOM Member States and from Regional and International organizations;
Reverend Members of the Clergy
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Specially Invited Guests
Members of the Media;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is with great pleasure that I share with you these brief words at this the Thirtieth Meeting of the Caribbean Community here in Guyana, one of the countries within the Region which I can proudly say that I feel right at home.
I wish to thank the distinguished President of Guyana for the warm hospitality extended to visiting delegations. I am confident that the atmosphere will contribute to a successful meeting.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Today, we bestow the Order of the Caribbean Community on a most deserving son of the Region, the Most Honourable P. J. Patterson. Therefore, I think it is fitting that I commence my remarks by revisiting a quotation on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy from the Hon. P.J. Patterson in 2004. I quote:
“A shared history and culture have provided a strong foundation for the process in which we are involved. Implementation of the CSME is taking place at a defining moment in the history of the Region’s development. We all have a role to play in ensuring that the Region continues to provide good leadership in advancing the cause of the CSME, thereby enabling us to reap economic benefits.
We have faced challenges in the past. It is up to each of us to see the new global economic environment and the necessity to institute the CSME not as a crisis but an opportunity, an opportunity to thrive and achieve the long sought-for development of our Region into a zone of prosperity and financial security.” – End of quote.
Today we meet at what can be described as a watershed moment in history where the challenges of the current global economic and financial crisis has placed the region at the crossroads of survive or perish. We are currently in the throes of a crisis never experienced by a large percentage of the Region’s population. Not since the Great Depression of 1929 to 1933 has the world been so affected – more so the small and vulnerable countries such as the developing nations of this hemisphere.
As we gather as a Community, we must ensure that the confidence reposed by our people in us as elected leaders of the Region is not lost. These times call for us as a grouping to restructure and transform our economies in the interest of all of our peoples.
As leaders, we will be asking our people to make great sacrifices. We too will have a responsibility to provide leadership which demonstrates a strong sense of purpose, resilience and permanence as a unit.
Our decisions and actions must be swift and our efforts must be coordinated. If we are to emerge stronger and better positioned nations, cooperation must be our guiding principle. This I firmly believe will enable us to realize the promise of a vibrant economic future for every citizen of the Region.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
A week ago, Antigua and Barbuda became the third country within CARICOM to sign on to the principles of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA).
Antigua and Barbuda’s decision was based on ALBA’s attractive features and advantages from a hemispheric perspective and the significant benefits for our citizens and residents that membership can provide.
I wish to categorically state that Antigua and Barbuda’s accession to ALBA does not in any way signal a wavering of our commitments at the level of CARICOM or the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.
Our participation in ALBA is without prejudice to our obligations under the Treaty of Basseterre, the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and other proposed economic and political alliances among member states of the OECS and CARICOM, including the proposed political integration arrangement between the OECS and Trinidad and Tobago. It is my country’s belief that our engagement in ALBA and PetroCaribe provides opportunities for even higher levels of cooperation at the sub regional level.
One such example is the plan of the Eastern Caribbean countries participating in Petro Caribe to establish Antigua and Barbuda as a central storage and transshipment point before the end of this year.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In Antigua and Barbuda’s view, ALBA promotes complementarity as an alternative to competition; solidarity as opposed to domination; cooperation as a replacement for exploitation; and respect for sovereignty rather than corporate rule. Antigua and Barbuda and, I am sure CARICOM, embrace these principles.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
As we gather as sovereign nations of CARICOM, the right of our neighbours in Honduras to choose their government is being challenged. We must send a clear signal that CARICOM firmly believes in protecting and preserving the democratic institutional system and the strict observance and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
A climate of democracy must be allowed to flourish in our hemisphere.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
An important agenda item for discussion here in Georgetown is the issue of Climate Change.
For small developing countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, which are frequented by natural disasters, this item is of vital importance.
The international effort to address climate change, which commenced in 2007 will culminate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009. It is anticipated that the conference in Copenhagen will conclude with a global consensus among the Parties that should result in an ambitious and effective international response to the problems associated with climate change.
Any failure or delay to secure a consensus for action on climate change will present significant challenges in terms of the human, infrastructural and financial impacts that countries will likely face. For CARICOM, securing urgent, effective and equitable action on climate change that is robust and dynamic is the overriding global policy challenge.
My Government believes that this agreement, if executed within an equitable framework, is inextricably linked to the broader global quest for sustainable development for all.
Further, the overriding priorities for CARICOM should remain poverty eradication and economic growth in the context of sustainable development. The impact of climate change is overwhelmingly severe to the region and has started to threaten development milestones achieved over a number of years. This will continue to exert significant pressure on existing island-nation vulnerabilities that have the real potential to worsen socio-economic condition.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
A successful outcome in Copenhagen is critical for CARICOM. The stakes are high and the region cannot settle for just any outcome. Rather the “Copenhagen Agreement” should, at a minimum include:
1. Binding commitments aimed at halving world greenhouse gas emissions by 2050;
2. A doubling of public investments in low-carbon technology by 2015 and a significant boost in funding from both public and private sources to fight global warming;
3. Credible adaptation mechanism to enable the most vulnerable countries to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change; and
4. Measureable, reportable and verifiable mitigation actions by developing countries supported by adequate funding and relevant technology transfers from the industrialized countries.
Antigua and Barbuda looks forward to the discussions on these issues.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
When we signed on to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, Antigua and Barbuda demonstrated commitment to the regional integration movement as elaborated in the Grande Anse Declaration of 1989.
We have been active participants in the CSME, honoring most if not all our obligations, while addressing administrative arrangements to facilitate the provisions enshrined in the Treaty. This has been done despite tremendous difficulties and challenges given Antigua and Barbuda’s limited resource endowment.
Before the CSME, Antigua and Barbuda was an open frontier, welcoming our brothers and sisters from across the Region to live and work and many have continued to contribute to the growth and development of our nation.
In short, Antigua and Barbuda has been practicing a very liberal immigration policy for a number of years.
However, this open and liberal immigration policy cannot be sustained amidst the growing threats posed by cross border criminal activity and the challenges of the global financial crisis. Continuing this liberal immigration arrangement is counter-productive to my government’s policy of providing the greatest good for the greatest number of our citizens and residents.
We have played our part as forerunners of the free movement of people in CARICOM, not only of skills but mainly the ordinary man and woman from across the Community who journeyed to Antigua and Barbuda in the quest for a better life. Data show that between September, 2008 and June, 2009, the Immigration Department in Antigua and Barbuda approved 14,318 applications from persons seeking an extension of time to remain in the country. Some of these applicants may have received multiple extensions over the said period.
In respect of work permits, during the period 1998 to 2008, an average of 5,000 work permits was granted on an annual basis.
Furthermore, during the period 1999 to 2008, a total of 5,958 persons became citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, which averages about 600 persons per year. These figures do not include those persons who qualified for citizenship under the Millennium Naturalization Act which conferred citizenship on over 3,000 individuals who were living in Antigua and Barbuda legally for at least three years prior to December 31, 2000.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
While Antigua and Barbuda will continue to welcome our brothers and sisters to our shores, our current immigration practices must be re-evaluated.
A closer examination is warranted in respect of the capacity of our various socio-economic institutions and infrastructure to adequately manage the continued inflow of persons desirous of taking up residence in Antigua and Barbuda.
At present, we are engaged in a series of consultations with various interest groups, including the various associations representing our CARICOM brothers and sisters living in Antigua and Barbuda.
Yesterday, the Ministry of National Security and Labour convened an open consultation on this matter to a packed auditorium, to receive input from stakeholders while outlining the facts as they relate to work permits and the immigration policy in general. This is the beginning of the conversation which will eventually lead to a re-designing of our immigration policies, procedures, facilitative processes and an amendment of the relevant legislation.
While we seek to deal with this matter, we remind the region of an undertaking given two years ago by the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and the Conference of Heads of Government to execute a study to assess the socio-economic impact of the free movement of individuals in Antigua and Barbuda. It was recognized that Antigua and Barbuda was a special case where thousands of CARICOM nationals already reside, and as a result tremendous pressures have been placed on the social and economic infrastructure.
Regrettably, this study is yet to be undertaken.
This is a critical study and a priority for my Government. We urged that all efforts be made for its completion prior to Antigua and Barbuda’s consideration of any further expansion of the existing or the addition of new categories of individuals moving within the meaning of Chapter three of the Revised Treaty.
Despite our challenges, I can unequivocally state that Antigua and Barbuda remains committed to the principles of the regional integration movement. We will not waiver in our commitment to agreed obligations. However, the reality of the situation calls for us to act responsibly in the manner in which I have articulated.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The next two days here in Georgetown will be very important for us as leaders. We are called upon to work together as one in the interest of the peoples of the region which is the essence of our Caribbean Civilization.
Working together, we have a duty to put the interest of all of our people first. As my distinguished colleague and friend the indomitable Dr. Ralph Gonsalves wrote in his book The Politics of our Caribbean Civilization:
“True measure of a civilization is not in the individual efforts of distinguished persons, but in the community of solidarity of the people as a whole in the process of nation building, the ordinary workers in agriculture, industry, fisheries, and tourism; the professionalism and extra efforts of health personnel … the day to day travails of women in keeping their families together and guiding their off-spring, the struggles of the poor in addressing their housing needs, with or without state aid; the daily grind of ordinary folk in their quest for greater democratic controls on the state administration and for justice….”
The challenges ahead are great but not insurmountable. Therefore, let us seize this moment and move our Community forward.
I pray God’s guidance on our deliberations over the next two days. May God bless all of our nations. Thank You Ladies and Gentlemen.
