CARICOM Ministers and US Congressional Representatives meet in Miami

CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS – The Director-General of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM), Ambassador Dr. Richard Bernal, called for an enhancement of the economic partnership between CARICOM and the United States, “based on interdependence and mutuality of benefits”. He made these remarks today at a forum organized and hosted by the Inter-American Economic Council (IAEC), in Miami. In a presentation on the subject ‘Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) for the Caribbean in the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA)’, Ambassador Bernal underscored S&DT for the small developing economies of CARICOM “is an essential part of such an enhanced partnership”. Through the period May 23 to 25, the forum brings together CARICOM Trade Ministers and members of the United States Caribbean Congressional Caucus (CCC), with a view to deepening the level of engagement. The agenda of the meeting centers on strengthening relations between CARICOM and the United States. Welcome remarks were delivered this morning by the President of the IAEC, Barry Featherman, and by The Honourable Dame Billie Miller, Senior Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Barbados. The Statement delivered by Dame Billie is available on and can be downloaded from the RNM website (www.crnm.org)). Dame Billie highlighted that the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) is pivotal to the region’s development thrust. She indicated that there is “scope for the US and CARICOM to actively cooperate in making the CSME a reality”. In reference to the US Third Border Initiative, she acknowledged the ‘range of development-based programmes’ in a variety of areas critically important to the region. However, the senior Barbadian Minister noted that it seemed to be “suffering from the lack of adequate funding to implement the programmes in the respective areas”. “We must not allow this opportunity to assist the Caribbean in its development efforts to come to naught”, she cautioned. Dr. Bernal highlighted that CARICOM countries are forging ahead with development strategies. “Stronger partnership with the United States, however, could help reinforce the development prospects of the region”, he said. Congressman Gregory W. Meeks chaired the afternoon session – a wide-ranging dialogue on non-trade issues – between CARICOM Ministers and Congressional representatives. He characterized the forum as “very useful”. Congressman Meeks stressed that “the participation of CARICOM Ministers and Congressional representatives will go a long way in improving understanding; and that understanding will assist representatives in proposing legislation supportive of the region’s agenda”. CARICOM Member States represented at the meeting include: Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago.