The Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Organ which is responsible for promoting human and social development within the region, is gearing itself to set new benchmarks for social development within CARICOM .
The Fourth Meeting of COHSOD slated to open in Georgetown, Guyana on 4 October, 2000 will deliberate on a wide-ranging agenda, including proposals for an integrating theme for the work of the Directorate of Human and Social Development of the CARICOM Secretariat. “Investing in Human Capital with Equity” is the theme being proposed to COHSOD.
During the three-day meeting, the Ministerial representatives are expected to focus on the implications for the Social Sectors when they examine the status of the implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). This is likely to run in tandem with discussions on relevant issues from the World Summit on Social Development and the Challenges for Inter-Sectoral Collaboration in the Social Sectors. The context within which these matters will be considered will be embraced in a wider agenda item which sets out to engage the deliberations in crafting a context for social policy in the Caribbean.
Youth development matters and the Region’s education system are among the core issues that the Community’s decision-makers will consider. Two special sessions are to be convened in the run-up to the COHSOD to look at these areas respectively, with a view to framing new initiatives to guide the wider deliberations. The Ministers responsible for Youth will meet in special caucus on the morning of 3 October, 2000 while the Ministers of Education are due to have their round of discussions on 4 October, 2000 prior to the opening of the COHSOD. Discussions in the latter meeting will be concentrated on issues relating to the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).
COHSOD is expected to explore integrated themes in social development and, in that regard, the consultations will focus on building and sustaining a knowledge-based workforce. The development of priorities and the bridging of gaps between sectors are among the expected results of the Conference.
Consideration is also likely to be given to the establishment of an Inter-Sectoral Agenda in response to youth development needs as part of the range of issues the Meeting will be examining. These are being regarded as critical to the challenging circumstances associated with social, economic and technological changes in the Caribbean’s experience. Regional cricket is listed among the critical areas identified for COHSOD’s attention .
Reports on a number of special issues from the Conference of Heads of Government and the Community Council of Ministers are also expected to be presented to the COHSOD . Among the matters listed for discussion are the proposed CARICOM Passport and the implementation of Protocol II which deals with the free movement of skills. In this case, the Meeting is expected to focus on a number of priority areas, including Common Standards and Accreditation.
The Caribbean Action Plan on HIV/AIDS and the report from the Caucus of Ministers of Health are among the special reports to be received at this Forum of the Community’s decision-making machinery. With regard to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the COHSOD is expected to initiate action to ensure that national strategic plans for effective programmes are developed to involve all sectors, and these must be guided by the priority areas identified in the regional strategic plan to combat the dire circumstances of the deadly virus in the Caribbean.
