JOINT DECLARATION OF SAN PEDRO
IV SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and of the Central American Integration System (SICA)
3 March 2022
We, the Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and of the Central American Integration System (SICA) meeting in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize on 3 March 2022, on the occasion of the IV CARICOM SICA Summit:
Acknowledge that these are exceptional times characterized by recurrent as well as new multidimensional challenges, including socioeconomic challenges brought about by the climate crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and antimicrobial existence
Consider that our geographic proximity, shared values, commitment to regional solidarity and multilateralism are the bases for our regional partnership
Recall our historic first Summit twenty years ago in Belize City and subsequent Summits and Ministerial Meetings between CARICOM and SICA which have laid a foundation on which to continue to build stronger and closer relations
Highlight the essential role of Belize as the historic interlocutor between both sub-regions and welcome the efforts of Belize, as Chair of CARICOM, and Panama, as Presidency Pro Tempore of SICA, to advance inter-regional dialogue and cooperation between CARICOM and SICA in this Summit
Reaffirm our commitment to strengthening relations and emphasize the necessity to meet at regular intervals to consult and coordinate on issues of mutual interest on the regional and international agendas
Recognize the transformative force of regional integration in achieving inclusive sustainable development outcomes, and commit to continue strengthening their respective regional integration platforms of which they are members, and for others in which we share membership.
Recognize that the effect of the COVID-19 on the sub-regions of the Caribbean and Central America has been profound and devastating in public health and loss of life, with sharp economic contraction resulting in real long term negative effects on the socio-economic welfare of our people, including in education, exacerbating poverty, deepening inequalities, reversing hard-won development gains and hampering progress towards achieving the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Welcome the participation of His Excellency Alberto Fernandez, President of Argentina and Chairman of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in which he reiterated the call for a strengthened and dynamic CELAC and urged the two subregions to engage with CELAC as a mechanism for regional cooperation to advance the crucial phase of the Post-Pandemic Recovery
Welcome the engagement with His Excellency Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations on the role of the UN system in coordinating a global response to the critical challenges confronting the sub-regions including the COVID-19 Pandemic Response and Recovery, climate change and financing for development, as well as efforts to address the situation in Haiti
Recognize and support the efforts of the Haitian government with the signing of the September 11, 2021 agreement for effective and peaceful governance and encourage talks between the Haitian political actors to create a politically stable environment that will facilitate the success of the upcoming elections in the country
Reiterate that climate change remains the greatest threat currently facing humanity and underscore the devastating impact of the climate emergency on the countries of the Caribbean and Central America, including persistent drought and extreme weather events, land degradation, sea level rise, coastal erosion and ocean acidification and the urgent need for a global response commensurate with the enormity of the challenge posed by climate change
Recognise and Confirm the value of cooperation and collaboration between CARICOM and SICA as a positive accelerator on issues of mutual interest such as climate change, COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery, development financing, health, natural disasters, disaster prevention and comprehensive risk management, sustainable development, migration, regional security, poverty eradication and food and nutrition security, amongst others
Aware that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the systemic failures in the international financial architecture, including the lack of access to development financing and inadequate solutions to address unsustainable debt for small and vulnerable countries, and for middle- income countries, and underscore the urgency for a comprehensive and integrated approach to support the countries of the two sub-regions
Recognize the efforts that both sub-regions have been advancing in order to achieve an economic recovery that is sustainable, green, resilient and inclusive in these extraordinary times, and the commitment to demand increased access of our countries to essential financing, in flexible and preferential conditions, through credit facilities and non-discriminatory and innovative mechanisms.
- Commit to strengthen foreign policy consultation, to the extent possible, in regional and international fora, especially where CARICOM and SICA share membership.
- Welcome the active collaboration and dialogue between Caribbean and Central American institutions and mechanisms at all levels, including in banking and finance, trade and investment, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, health, disaster prevention and comprehensive risk management, and security; as well as draw on the support from regional and international institutions, including PAHO/WHO, OECD and ECLAC to strengthen results and impact.
- Agree to strengthen cooperation between CARICOM and SICA on climate change including exchanging best practices on integrating climate resilience into development planning, fostering regular dialogue and collaboration between the CARICOM Climate Change Center (CCCCC) and the Central American Commission for the Environment and Development (CCAD) and, pursuing joint advocacy for enhancing access to climate finance for adaptation, mitigation and loss and damage responses, keeping global warming below 1.5C, and in preparations for COP27, as appropriate.
- Agree to collaborate for immediate and long-term public health support, including strengthening capacity and resilience of health systems, mitigation of COVID-19 variants, equitable vaccine distribution and access in the sub-regions, access to new COVID-19 specific treatments, and future pandemic preparedness and disease prevention.
- Agree on the necessity of revitalizing the economies of the sub-regions and to incorporate green, blue, orange, sustainable and digital transformation into their economic growth plans and policies to attain a more resilient and inclusive post-COVID future.
- Recognize the potential for deeper and wider regional trade and investment to stimulate economic growth and development and agree to further explore cooperation in this area towards sustainable economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in the sub-regions.
- Reiterate the importance of tourism in both sub-regions and therefore consider it necessary to establish a roadmap for the promotion of this sector, as well as technical cooperation for the recovery and use of natural spaces that contribute to this sector.
- Urge international financial institutions to take effective measures to strengthen the global financial safety net, assist developing countries in addressing debt vulnerability and in attaining debt sustainability as soon as possible, enhance access to concessionary financing, and development assistance, and addressing vulnerability especially of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the lower coastal states of the Greater Caribbean and the Central American Isthmus, continue to work on devising solutions for Small Island and Low-Lying Coastal Developing States in the two sub-regions by incorporating a multidimensional vulnerability index to the criteria for determining access to concessional financing and agree to join their advocacy in this regard.
- Congratulate the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of CARICOM and SICA for the adoption of the revised CARICOM – SICA Plan of Action which identifies specific areas for inter-regional dialogue and cooperation to jointly address the challenges faced by both sub-regions and commit to its implementation, periodic evaluation and follow-up.
- Emphasize the importance of South-South Cooperation as a valuable mechanism to complement the development efforts of both sub-regions and agree to promote this means of cooperation through partnerships to develop inter-regional projects drawn from the CARCOM-SICA Plan of Action.
- Agree to establish the High-Level Technical Committee of CARICOM and SICA countries to coordinate and monitor the implementation and evaluation of the CARICOM – SICA Plan of Action.
- Agree to convene the V CARICOM-SICA Summit in 2024.
The Heads of State and Government express appreciation to the people and Government of Belize for the courtesies afforded to the participants and the excellent organization of the meeting which resulted in a successful IV CARICOM-SICA Summit.
San Pedro, Belize 3 March 2022
