Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Mr. Edwin Carrington and his Senior Staff, held the first Press Conference by the Secretariat for the New Year on January 10, 2001 at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Headquarters in Barbados.
The Secretary-General was in Barbados also to participate in the two-day High-Level Consultations on the OECD’s Harmful Tax Competition Initiative.
In his meeting with the media, the Secretary-General updated them on the many issues currently on the Community’s Agenda such as the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), including the on-going Public Education Programmes to increase public awareness and promote the Single Market and Economy.
In this regard, the Secretary-General noted that the Second Consultation on the CSME, which was held in Barbados in November 2000, included representatives of civil society, the media and other key stakeholders in the Community.
The media were also informed that the Agreement establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has been completed and will be reviewed by the Legal Affairs Committee, prior to it being submitted to CARICOM Heads of Government when they meet next month in Barbados for their Twelfth Inter-Sessional Meeting. The important issues of the insulation of the judges of the Court from political influence as well as the funding for the Court were also discussed in detail.
He added that the issue of governance has emerged as an important issue engaging the attention of the Region’s leaders.
Regarding Human and Social Development, the media were informed that the CARICOM Secretariat will be coordinating a programme, funded by a grant from the European Union, aimed at reducing the spread and impact of HIV/AIDS and STDs in the Caribbean Region. The Government of Japan is also willing to contribute to the Region’s efforts to combat this scourge.
The Secretariat revealed that it is estimated that between 16,000 and 18,000 persons in the Community are stricken with AIDS, and about 310,000 – both males and females – in the 25-44 years age group have been diagnosed as being HIV positive.
The role of the Region’s Youth in shaping and charting the future of the Community was stressed. Activities undertaken in the past two years included the hosting of a Caribbean Youth Explosion along with the convening of a Caribbean Youth Parliament, the strengthening of programmes for disadvantaged youth and mechanisms for youth exchanges aimed at fostering greater understanding.
In the area of external relations, the Secretary-General indicated that in 2000, priority had been given to deepening and extending the Community’s relations within the hemisphere; to the protection of the Region’s vital banana export market in the EU; the conclusion of the new ACP-EU Partnership Agreement which was signed in Cotonou, Benin last June; and a united regional approach to the FTAA negotiations and in the WTO.
Mr. Carrington stated that some new priorities for CARICOM in this year were the generation of investment; enhancing the role of the Private Sector; Tourism development; strengthening the Assembly of Caribbean Community Parliamentarians; and the functioning of the quasi cabinet established by the Heads of Government.
Mr. Carrington congratulated and thanked the media for their role in keeping the citizens of the Community apprised of developments in the Region as well as of the Community’s efforts to position itself to face the challenges of the year ahead and beyond.
Dr. Edward Greene, Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development; Mr. Ivor Carryl, Programme Manager, CARICOM Single Market and Economy; and Mr. Selwyn E. King, Public Relations Officer, Office of the Secretary-General, assisted the Secretary-General in the Press Conference.
