Outgoing Chairman of the Caribbean Community, the Rt. Hon Freundel Stuart in his end of year message reiterated the value of integration; noting that “the basis of the Community’s strength is its collective force”.
The Chairman highlighted some of the Community’s efforts during 2015, including its stance in major global fora on critical issues such as financing for development, the sustainable development goals and climate change.
He said: “The outcome of the United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21), the Paris agreement, has given us hope…. Our Region was united on this issue and we can be proud of what we achieved in Paris for SIDS”.
On approaches to dealing with issues affecting Member States and the Community’s development, the Chairman singled out CARICOM’s advocacy positions “at the highest levels of Government with the United States, France, Costa Rica and Panama and the UN Secretary-General”.
He referred also to the “ground breaking dialogue” at the 36th Conference of CARICOM Heads with major international institutions and leaders such as the UN Secretary-General. These discussions, he said, were aimed at finding options to stimulate growth and reduce the crushing debt burden being carried by many Member States.
“…we are convinced that fostering growth and relief of the debt burden will assist in boosting employment and maintaining and improving the standard of living of our citizens”, he added.
In reference to regional competitiveness through renewable energy, specifically the establishment of the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CREE), the chairman noted that CREE’s work was expected to have a direct impact on the lives of Caribbean people.
“The connection between this Centre and the quotidian demands of life on the Region’s citizens is clear: lower cost and sustainable energy sources will reduce the cost of living and enhance the sustainability of our economies and choices”, the Chairman said.
The successful hosting of the 12th CARIFESTA and the use of this platform for building the creative industries and for providing employment for the youth; as well as the continued roll out of the CSME Application Processing System (CAPS) were also singled out as achievements in the Community’s collective efforts for 2015.
Throughout his message, the Chairman underscored that it was this collectivity that must be used as CARICOM continued its efforts to build a secure, principled, viable and sustainable Community for all of its citizens.
