(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) It is my pleasure to welcome you to this Second Forum on Donor Co-ordination and Aid Effectiveness.
In so doing I wish to express the Community’s on-going solidarity with the Government and people of Japan as they continue their struggle to come to terms with the effects of the disastrous earthquake, tsunami and nuclear plant leaks. At the same time I am certain that the splendid performance of their successful World Cup women’s football team would have brought joy to the nation. Congratulations!
Congratulations are also in order for Australia as their champion cyclist Cadel Evans made history as the first Australian to win the prestigious Tour de France. His was a triumph for perseverance after his last two attempts had brought him the runner-up position.
Over the last six months, the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community and the Ministerial Councils have focussed on re-energising the integration movement through the identification of priorities for regional action with emphasis on tangible results for our people. At their Special Retreat held last May here in Guyana, the Heads of Government outlined the priority areas and at their Thirty Second Regular Meeting recently concluded in St Kitts and Nevis, further elaborated on their expectations of seeing them to fruition. Key strategic goals to meet the expectations of the Heads of Government would be job creation and a positive impact felt on the ground in Member States. To assist in achieving this, would require greater involvement of the private sector in the integration process.
We therefore have clear guidelines with which to work with our Development Partners in meeting our development goals.
There are constraints to be addressed in Member States with respect to capacity to deliver results. This could be resolved by the strategic delivery of assistance to develop a cadre of human resources.
This would require that we work together in a way to achieve results, with each of us taking responsibility and being accountable and by each of us I mean the Member States, the CARICOM Secretariat and the International Development Partners. Let us openly examine risks as they occur and seek solutions together so that there is joint ownership of the projects and programmes. Our collaboration should occur from conceptualisation to implementation; we need together to build that framework to achieve that result.
A vital element in all of this is the strengthening of the private sector. Our Heads of Government have acknowledged and emphasised the critical role of the Private Sector, as the Region strives towards the achievement of our development goals. The Private Sector’s role especially in job creation is indispensable to achieving sustained economic growth and social stability. In the context of our Region, particularly important components of the Private Sector are the micro, small and medium enterprises, both formal and informal.
It would certainly not be beyond the remit of this Forum to initiate discussion on how it may be possible to leverage traditional assistance to benefit the development of the regional Private Sector, including the building of competitiveness.
This involvement should be accompanied by a new approach from the private sector towards one of total involvement and being an integral part of the partnership. They too must take responsibility for their role and be prepared to be part of the solution to the challenges and share the risks in achieving the national and regional development goals.
The Caribbean Community has had a long history of relations with most of the Development Partners gathered here today. You have strengthened that relationship, not least through the provision of significant resources and technical cooperation, to assist our efforts at improving the lives of the people of the Region. The Community is appreciative of your invaluable support.
In a world that has become increasingly harsh towards the needs of small developing countries, together we must make sure that resources for development are delivered in accordance with our priorities and where they can have the greatest effect.
We in CARICOM are building, block by block, our regional integration arrangement based on our circumstances, needs and priorities; we are taking steps to enhance our competitiveness; and we have an ambitious but necessary trade agenda. We recognise, however, that we cannot do it all alone; we require the active support of our Development Partners.
In the end, development is about people and creating opportunities for their sustained growth and improvement in their quality of life. We ask for your cooperation and partnership to this end.
I thank you