(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) There is need for the urgent formulation of a Regional action plan to counter natural disasters in light of the recent events that have adversely affected the infrastructure and economies of several Member States. This is the conviction of Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Mr. Edwin Carrington who hopes that the recent flooding in Guyana, and Hurricane Ivan's devastation of Grenada would propel CARICOM leaders into action when they assemble in Paramaribo, Suriname from 16-17 February for their Sixteenth Inter-Sessional Meeting.
Briefing the Surinamese media corps on Friday, 11 February 2005, on the key issues on the agenda of the Regional high-level meeting, Mr. Carrington stressed that the Caribbean is vulnerable to natural disasters, hence the high importance attached to the issue.
With 2005 designated The Year of the Single Market, the preparedness of Member States for the full implementation of the CARICOM Single Market by December 2005, will be assessed. “We have reached a stage where the emphasis is now on the creation of a single economy,” Mr. Carrington said. Equally important and related to these discussions, he noted that the Heads of Government will give attention to plans for the inauguration of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) considered the backbone of the CSME.
Noting that the recent ruling of the United Kingdom Privy Council, which nullified Jamaica's enabling legislation for accession to the CCJ as its final appellate court had made the issue more urgent, the CARICOM Secretary-General affirmed that plans for the inauguration of the court remain on course.
On the issue of a common passport for the Region, Mr. Carrington expressed satisfaction that Member States have agreed on certain specifications for the travel document. While commending Suriname's lead in being the first to issue a CARICOM passport bearing the name and logo of the Community, he encouraged others to follow suit.
In terms of CARICOM's external negotiations, the Sixteenth Inter-Sessional Meeting will discuss the perpetual challenges facing the Region in its ongoing negotiations with the European Union (EU), the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). CARICOM leaders are poised to examine possible solutions to the hurdles faced by Community Members with respect to the banana and sugar sectors. As banana producers continue to reel from the effects of the European Union (EU) modification of the regime that existed in favour of Regional suppliers, Mr. Carrington said leaders have the dual challenge of negotiating with the EU and settling differences among traditional and non-traditional ACP banana suppliers, even as they brace for the full impact of adjustments to the sugar protocol.
At the Meeting the CARICOM Heads of Government will exchange view with the new EU Commissioner for Development Louis Michel and Brazil's President Luis Ignacio Lula Da Silva. Regional Heads will also deliberate over issues such as crime and security, HIV/AIDS and preparations for the staging of the 2007 Cricket World Cup.
