(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Newly-accredited Plenipotentiary Representative of the United Kingdom to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), His Excellency Fraser Wheeler, has reaffirmed his government’s support to the Region’s economic development.
In an historic ceremony which marked the accreditation of the first Plenipotentiary Representative of the UK to CARICOM, Mr. Wheeler stated that the British government was determined to partner with CARICOM to manage risks and take opportunities to attain sustainable economic growth.
The accreditation ceremony took place at the Headquarters of the CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana, on Friday January 23, 2009.
In his remarks, CARICOM Secretary-General, His Excellency Edwin Carrington, who received the credentials from the representative, said that CARICOM, over the years, had received “significant development support” from the British government.
He highlighted the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) programme of cooperation and its pledge of 10 million pounds towards the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF); a critical development mechanism to support disadvantaged countries and sectors within the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
Continuing, Secretary-General Carrington said that the British government had also offered another 10 million pounds to create a Challenge Fund in support of Caribbean entrepreneurship and innovations.
For those contributions, he told High Commissioner Wheeler that the Region was “deeply appreciative.” Notwithstanding, Secretary-General Carrington said, there was still need for enhanced relations especially in the wake of widening economic gaps between developing and developed nation, and the global economic and financial crisis. High Commissioner Wheeler said that his government had recognised that sustainable economic growth in the Region will be a challenging feat in the current economic recession, but, he added, “it can and will be done.”
He added that the British government had “committed significant resources” and was “determined to make a success of the Economic Partnership Agreement,” which was entered into last year between the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (CARIFORUM) and the European Union (EU). This, he said, will require a “dynamic and innovative working partnership between the European Union and CARICOM.” He added that through this partnership, it is hoped that real difference will be made in people’s lives on the ground, throughout the Region. High Commissioner Wheeler noted that a demonstration of British government’s support of economic sustainability in the Region was the call, heralded by UK Prime Minister, for the reform of the international financial institutions.
“We fully intend to put the interest of the region into account,” High Commissioner Wheeler stated.
