We, the Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community having met in Castries, Saint Lucia, July 3-5, 2019 on the occasion of the 40th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM;
Reaffirming that Human and Social Development has been established as one of the pillars of the Caribbean Community;
Recalling the major inter-sectoral programmes undertaken by the Ministerial Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) and the Ministerial Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) which coordinates on-going national efforts to address the social, economic and environmental challenges of its people;
Gravely concerned that climate change, increased natural disasters, biodiversity and environmental degradation, coupled with economic and social shocks, could render our development untenable;
Recognising with concern the impact of climate change and marine pollution on the declining rate of ocean health and its effect on our development as a key provider of food and nutrition, tourism and ecosystem services and as an engine for sustainable economic development and growth;
Deeply concerned also with the continuing negative impact of crime and violence, including transnational organised crime and the illicit trade in small and light weapons, on the socio-economic development and economic viability of CARICOM States;
Alarmed that our region is confronting unprecedented developmental challenges that may be beyond our capacity to cope, and recognising that the next decade represents a critical point in our region’s journey towards meaningful and comprehensive sustainable development;
Emphasising in this regard the need to accelerate the implementation of the sustainable development agenda for small island developing states, and recalling our commitment to our countries, communities and people enshrined in the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (S.A.M.O.A.) Pathway, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Paris Agreement;
Guided by the principles and objectives of the Charter of the United Nations, the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, the Declaration on the Right to Development, and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights;
We, the Heads of State and Government, affirm thus our conviction that together we can considerably expand the horizons of our sustainable development;
We are determined to remain the strongest advocates for urgent and enhanced climate ambition and action consistent with 1.5°C, and for far reaching systemic changes to make financial flows consistent with low greenhouse gas emissions and climate resilient development pathways. We will also continue to press for dedicated resources to support our countries with adaptation and addressing permanent loss and damage;
We commit to actively support multilateral processes and to participate in actions that further our own development and survival. We acknowledge the 2030 Agenda as the plan of action for people, planet and prosperity and the most far-reaching global commitment to a world free of poverty and want. The 2030 Agenda represents for Small Island Developing States our commitment to universal prosperity;
We endorse the commitment for all people to have access to the health care they need, when and where they need it, without facing financial hardship. We recommit to taking actions geared towards the strengthening of health systems for the achievement of universal coverage of health services;
We underscore that international public finance plays an important role in complementing the efforts of countries to mobilise resources domestically, especially in the poorest and most vulnerable countries with limited domestic resources. We recall the commitments made in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and call for the renewed commitment of international partners to the means of implementation for vulnerable economies. We further urge the development of a tailored response to address the specific challenges that small island developing states face in accessing finance and managing sustainable debt including initiatives such as debt swaps, debt forgiveness and debt moratoriums. We also call for new methodologies for small island developing states in determining graduation to middle income and high-income status, including consideration of our vulnerabilities. We likewise urge the immediate consideration of global policy that can safeguard the indigenous institutions of our financial sector against exclusion from participation in the global financial systems which could threaten our financial and economic viability;
We determine that our sustainable development should be guided by the principles and actions we called for in the S.A.M.O.A. Pathway. The improvement of our circumstances is based on the overwhelming need for the global community to recommit to small island developing States in ways that abate the exogenous challenges we face;
We reaffirm our support for bold and transformative partnerships and collective action to truly leave no one behind. We continue to call for the strengthening of the long-standing cooperation and support provided by the international community in assisting small island developing States to make progress in addressing their vulnerabilities and supporting their sustainable development efforts;
We declare
The need for renewed and robust commitment to vulnerable countries by taking proactive action to support the people, economy and environment in our small island and low lying coastal developing States;
Our full support to a synergistic and holistic process for the September high-level events, namely the Climate Action Summit, the High Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage, the Sustainable Development Goals Summit, the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development and the High-level Meeting on the Mid-term Review of the S.A.M.O.A. Pathway. The global development agenda is bolstered by integrated efforts that resound in individual success;
Our recognition that our countries are small but not insignificant; vulnerable but not powerless; constrained but not uncommitted;
Our strong determination for a world where we can be the architects of a future built on development that is not constrained by lack of financing and resources, or existentially threatened by environmental shocks;
Our firm resolve to the sustainable development of our region.
