(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The 35-year old relationship between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Mexico was solidified on May 28, 2009, at the headquarters of the CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana, with the accreditation of a new Plenipotentiary Representative of Mexico to CARICOM, His Excellency Fernando Sandoval.
In his remarks, CARICOM Secretary-General, His Excellency Edwin Carrington, stated that the Region had recognised the “active role” Mexico played in the G-20 and called for the country to “identify the needs of the small, vulnerable and highly indebted economies of the Caribbean” to articulate their concerns in such fora.
This kind of advocacy, Mr. Carrington said, was critical to many CARICOM Member States which had “graduated” from access to concessionary loans from the International Financial Institutions (IFIs). As such, they were deemed ineligible for financing to support their development, especially “at this time when it is most needed”, he added.
The CARICOM Secretary-General said that the policy had the potential to “severely stunt” social and economic progress. He added that this issue would be “fully ventilated” by CARICOM Heads of Government, when they attend the United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development, scheduled for the UN Headquarters, 24-26 June, 2009.
Mr. Carrington noted Mexico’s contribution to multilateralism and international cooperation as demonstrated in its active participation in a United Nations; in the spheres of Security, Climate Change and the Millennium Development Goals.
He commended the Government of Mexico for its active participation in the drafting of the Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and its complementary protocols, such as the protocol on trafficking in persons; smuggling of migrants by land, sea and air; and the illicit manufacture of, and traffic in firearms and drugs.
“The threat of crime and insecurity, fuelled in large measure by the traffic in illicit drugs, is undoubtedly one of extreme importance to the CARICOM Region,” Secretary-General Carrington stated.
Lauding Mexico’s contribution the Community, the Secretary-General said that its membership of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has “contributed significantly to the promotion of regional integration in CARICOM”.
Secretary-General Carrington stated that the Joint Commission remained the main mechanism for CARICOM-Mexico cooperation at the regional level, through which CARICOM had benefited from projects which had resulted in the strengthening of its regional institutions; the enhancement of its human resources, particularly in the area of Spanish language training; and the fostering of new research and development areas within the Region.
Relations between CARICOM and Mexico were formalised in 1974, with the signing of the Agreement establishing the CARICOM-Mexico Joint Commission. Mexico was the first country to establish a Joint Commission with CARICOM.
