- Your Excellency David Málaga, Plenipotentiary Representative of the Republic of Peru to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM);
- Staff of the CARICOM Secretariat.
Ambassador, welcome to Guyana and the Headquarters of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). It gives me immense pleasure to accept your letter of credence and extend sincere congratulations on your appointment as the first Plenipotentiary Representative of the Republic of Peru to the Caribbean Community. Ambassador, today’s ceremony is a reflection of the willingness of both CARICOM Member States and Peru to build on existing relations. It is also a clear sign of our mutual interest in strengthening this connection and deepening our relations.
CARICOM attaches great value to the bonds of friendship that we have forged with Peru over the years. Through diplomatic ties, marked by regular political engagements and a structured development cooperation programme, there are consistent opportunities for collaboration.
In this regard, the Community welcomes Peru’s interest in establishing a South-South Cooperation Partnership Programme with CARICOM for the period 2022-2024, which I am pleased to inform has been shared with our Member States.
The proposed mechanism has the potential to serve as the primary pathway through which we may build mutually beneficial relations that encompass issues such as natural disaster risks prevention and management; tourism and gastronomy; and fisheries management.
Other economic and social development issues such as climate change mitigation and access to concessionary financing, which contribute to mutual advancement and regional integration, continue to be of interest to CARICOM. As Small Islands and Low-lying Coastal Developing States (SIDS), these issues are critical to our sustainable development and, as such, we value the support of friendly countries, such as Peru, in advancing our interests. As such, we look forward to further discussion on viable modalities, including with our Regional Organisations, such as the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) for enhancing our relations.
Ambassador, our common interests and shared concerns have been reflected in discussions at the bilateral, regional, and hemispheric levels, through shared Membership of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Organization of American States (OAS). Our relationship is also advanced within the context of our engagements in international fora. CARICOM’s overwhelming support of Peru’s successful election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the period (2006-2007) is testimony of our desire to strengthen the bonds of friendship.
Climate Change remains the biggest threat to the sustainable development of the Region. CARICOM countries, like other SIDS, continue to advocate for concerted action to limit the global increase of temperatures to 1.5 degree Celsius instead of 2 degrees relative to pre-industrial levels. CARICOM would welcome the support of Peru in multilateral efforts to keep global warming below the 1.5 degree threshold.
Once again, I am pleased to accept the Letter formally accrediting you as Peru’s first Plenipotentiary Representative to the Caribbean Community, and take this opportunity to convey the Community’s confidence in the success of our collaboration.
Your Excellency, I have no doubt that your appointment will contribute greatly to the renewal and strengthening of CARICOM-Peru relations. I extend my best wishes for a successful tenure.
Thank you.
