Repositioning CARICOM: Implementing the Community Strategic Plan 2015-2019 New Year Message from the CARICOM Chair

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) I  take   this   opportunity to  wish  you  all  a  happy   New  Year  and a  productive and prosperous   2015.
 
This   year,   our   Community    embarks    on   a  new  journey    as  we  look   at   modes   of implementation  of our first-ever  Five-Year Strategic  Plan 2015-2019.   This Plan is a bold step that  demonstrates  our determination  to provide  the best options  for the growth  and development  of our people.   This Plan is an important   part  of the  Reform  Process  in our Community  and we stand  to be judged  both  by its success  and  the  actions  we take  in its implementation.    In repositioning  our  Community, as this  Plan  seeks  to do, we will be aiming  at making  it more  resilient  to the  internal  and  external  factors  which hinder  our efforts  at attaining   sustainable   development in a rapidly  changing  world.
 
There   can  be   no   more   vivid  demonstration    of  the   dynamic   nature    of  the   global environment  that  we face than  the  recent  rapprochement  between  Cuba and the  United States.   Those  of us who have consistently   called for an end to the  isolation  of our sister Caribbean  country  and,  in particular,   the  cessation  of the  economic,  trade  and  financial embargo  are heartened   by the  initiatives  announced   by President   Obama  and  President Castro.   In  my view this  rapprochement  underscores   the  urgency  of a summit  between the American  President   and the Heads  of the Community.
 
This  year  also  marks  the  beginning   of negotiations   for  the  United  Nations   Post-2015
Development  Agenda   which  seeks  to  find  a  more  effective  route   to  the  sustainable development  of all States.   This is of keen  interest  to our  Community   as it is important that  the  concerns   of small  vulnerable   states  like ours  must  be taken  into  account  and acted  upon.    We  have  taken  action  in this  regard  by  ensuring   that  our  concerns   and interests  are part  of the platform  for the negotiations   agreed  to last September  in Samoa by the grouping  of Small Island  Developing  States  (SIDS).
 
As I assume  the  Chair  of CARICOMfor the  next six months,  it will be my duty to work with my colleague Heads and the Secretary-General to lay the foundations   for the implementation  of our Strategic  Plan.   Of particular   importance   will be the high priority areas   identified   for  focused  implementation   over  the  next  five years.    These  will  be critical  as it is imperative   we find the  means  to reverse  the dire  economic  situation   with which so many of us are faced.
 
I hope  that  you  are  all able  to join  us  in Nassau  on  26th and  27th of February   for  the Inter-sessional   Meeting.     I  think   that   there   will  be  an  important    discussion   on  the investment   in the  cultural  development  of our  community   including  sports  and  music. There   must  be  increased   focus  on  this  part   of  our  human   development  as  we  look toward   the  future   of  the   region.   There   is  no  question   in  my  mind   that   increased emphasis  on the development of young people  should  also be a central  focus.
 
 
My  predecessor  as  Chair,  the  Prime   Minister   of Antigua   and   Barbuda,   Honourable Gaston  Browne,  has  ably guided  us through   the  last  six months.    The  responsibility  is now  mine  to  continue   to  advance  the  interests   of our  Community  and  strengthen    the integration  process  with  the  assistance   of my colleague  Heads  of Government  and  the Secretary-General,  and the support  of the people  of CARlCOM.
 
May we all have a blessed  2015.
 
Perry G. Christie
Prime  Minister
Commonwealth of The Bahamas