GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS DEMANDS COOPERATION AS NEVER BEFORE – SOUTH AFRICAN AMBASSADOR TO CARICOM

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Ambassador Faith Radebe, the first Plenipotentiary Representative of South Africa to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has emphasised the need for greater bilateral collaboration in the face of the global financial and economic crisis.

She said the crisis “impressed upon us cooperation demands that have never been seen before”. Ambassador Faith Radebe was at the time speaking at the Ceremony for the Presentation of Credentials at the Headquarters of the CARICOM Secretariat, Thursday May 29, 2009.

The Ambassador stated that the common history, which has defined the basis of the relationship among the countries of CARIOM and South Africa, should be exploited to forge closer relations “in a bond of true friendship”. This cross pollination, Ambassador Radebe added, should transcend to deepen other areas of cooperation such as education, trade and tourism.

She stressed the need for the ties that already existed to be translated to South -South Cooperation, which the Ambassador described as an “increasingly inevitable route towards meaningful multilateral trade” and a “significant option in the survival of developing countries in a rapidly globalising world”.

During her tour of duty, Ambassador Radebe said that she anticipated the kind of engagement and dialogue between CARICOM and South Africa that would advance the cause of South-South cooperation in the Commonwealth, Non-Align Movement, the United Nations, the G-20, and other international institutions.

She noted that it was vital for countries of the developing world to strive for the conclusion of the DOHA Round of Negotiations that was more responsive to their developmental needs.

Pointing out a critical area in which South Africa could assist the Region, the Ambassador said that South Africa was ready to share its the experience in respect of tourism -which had contributed significantly to its development – in “a mutually beneficial way” that would see this sector develop even further within CARICOM.

Expressing her enthusiasm to serve as the first Plenipotentiary Representation of South African to CARICOM, Ambassador Radebe said that she was looking forward to a “fruitful and enriching experience” during her tour.

“It is with a sense of great pride that I take this appointment to represent a truly democratic South Africa, free of racism, sexism and experiencing equal opportunities for all,” she stated.