The Region is seeking to advance discussions on a sustainable approach to human and social development as a major step towards securing a better future for its peoples by improving their quality of life and creating a region more capable of taking on the challenges of globalisation.
At a three-day meeting of the Council of Human and Social Development (COHSOD VII) which opened in Georgetown, Guyana Wednesday 23 October 2002, the Ministers noted that a policy of dialogue and effective collaboration has to be adopted in order to reposition the vulnerable societies of the region.
During the Opening Ceremony attended by eleven CARICOM Ministers with responsibilities for various areas of human services, Guyana’s Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Hon. Gail Teixera, urged her colleagues to focus their attention on finding quick solutions to the social ills which impacts on the region’s poor and vulnerable population.
“COHSOD must work with greater urgency to grapple with the demands of finding answers to very critical issues, such as poverty reduction, safety nets in periods of economic downturn and developing a coordinated all-embracing battle against crime and the narco-industry in the region which threatens the survival of democracy in the region.”
Speaking on behalf of the outgoing chairman of COHSOD Hon. Douglas Slater, Minster of Health, St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Hon. Clayton Burgin, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, outlined the significant activities during his colleague Minister’s tenure, calling particular attention to the work of the Pan-Caribbean Partnership (PANCAP) against HIV/AIDS. He described it as “an invaluable device for resource mobilization, rationalization of resources and the enhancement of the Region’s propensity to compete in the Global arena and to have an identity in a manner that would not be possible if we operate as individual dots on the map.”
In passing the baton to successor, Suriname’s Hon. Walter Sandriman, Minister Burgin pointed with great expectation to the prospects for the Region in the new Human Resource Development Strategy to be tabled by the Future Policies Group (FPG).
Incoming Chairman of COHSOD, Minister of Education and Community Development, Hon. Walter T Sandriman recognising the challenges of the Social Sectors in promoting a more coherent approach to the Region’s development, reminded his colleagues of the constraints under which Caribbean economies had to operate in this era of globalisation.The forces of liberalization show little regard for equity, and so, the only hope for the small vulnerable states of CARICOM is the formation of a Single Market and Economy, the Minister pointed out.
Minister Sandriman also called on the COHSOD Ministers to give priority in their deliberations, to the mosquito-borne diseases of Dengue fever and malaria, which are especially serious in Guyana and Suriname.“Development projects in the hinterland can experience many problems with sick labourers. Since, eco-tourism is growing in our Region, we therefore have to control malaria.”
COHSOD VII has a very intensive agenda, which includes vital issues such as technology in education, accreditation systems, HIV/AIDS, Crime and Security and the Rights of Children. This Council is one of four (Community) Councils of Ministers, responsible for the development of strategic planning and co-ordination in areas of interest to the Community. COHSOD is mandated to promote and develop policies and programmes aimed at enhancing human and social development in the Caribbean Community.
Deputy Secretary General of CARICOM, Dr Carla Barnett noting the significance of COHSOD VII in defining effective responses to several social ills, posited that “COHSOD was taking place at a time when the Region is facing many challenges including economic slowdown, high unemployment rates, increasing levels of violent crimes linked to drugs and the high incidence of HIV/AIDS.”
Dr Barnett stressed the importance of human resource development in the overall goals of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
The inter-sectoral approach to Human and Social Development (HSD) has been described as the best option given the nature of the evolving global system. Dr Edward Greene, Assistant Secretary General for Human and Social Development at CARICOM says that the approach takes into account the environment and its capacity to support human activity in all decisions.
“Sustainable development is about moving forward, and taking a different approach to managing and directing change that balances the social, economic and environmental impact of our actions,” Dr Greene said.
