The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Netherlands on Wednesday renewed a mechanism for diplomatic cooperation with the accreditation of a new envoy to CARICOM, His Excellency Jules Bijl.
In a simple ceremony at the Headquarters of the CARICOM Secretariat on 18 January 2017, CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, said the Community was keen to learn more of Netherland’s experiences in a range of areas. They include environmental protection, water management, disaster management, renewable energy, agriculture, food processing, as well as chemical and port infrastructure.
CARICOM was also eager to boost trade, tourism, cultural and human resource development exchanges within a cooperation programme that the Netherlands had signalled it was interested in developing, Mr. LaRocque said.
When Ambassador Bijl’s delivered his remarks, he indicated those areas in which the Kingdom hoped to expand its cooperation. They include climate change, disaster risk management, security, sustainable development and employment.
Secretary-General LaRocque underscored the importance of access to development finance in pursuit of the 2030 Development Agenda and Paris Climate Change Agreement. For Small-Island and Low-lying Coastal Developing States (SIDS), their peculiar vulnerabilities must be factored into the criteria for access, he noted.
Knowing how vulnerability negatively impacts sustainable growth and prosperity, he told Mr Bijl that CARICOM countries will persistently decry being labelled as non-cooperative tax jurisdictions.
“Ambassador, there is documented proof, including by the relevant globally recognized institutions, of our efforts and successes in respecting the onerous regulatory obligations that govern the financial services sector.”
“We have grave concerns over the disturbing trend of international banks withdrawing correspondent banking services. This is negatively affecting our ability to conduct international financial transactions and, by extension, trade and remittances for our people,” Ambassador LaRocque said.
Ambassador Bijl expressed appreciation for the Region’s support of Netherlands’ successful candidacy of a temporary seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
“We would like to thank CARICOM for its important contribution that saw our election… The Kingdom is committed to be the partner of the CARICOM-countries in the UNSC and we look forward to working with you on issues of common interest.”
In this regard, he said the Kingdom was interested in learning more about the development of the regional strategic plan based on the ideals of the Samoa pathway and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Noting that the Kingdom viewed the Community as a platform to fulfil its promises to the Region, he said the Netherlands could also be an advocate for SIDS to the UN.
“Our Kingdom’s SIDS make us realise how vulnerable we are in the Caribbean,” Mr. Bijl stated.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands include the islands of Curacao, Aruba, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius and Saba which are in the Caribbean Sea. Curacao, Aruba and Sint Maarten have applied for Associate Membership of the Caribbean Community. These applications are being actively considered in the context of an enlargement policy which is being formulated.
Mr. Bijl noted that the Netherlands believed in the value from their territories integrating their policy efforts with the countries and organizations in the Caribbean. In this regard, he said the Kingdom strongly supported the applications for Associated Membership to CARICOM.
“We would be very happy to contribute very soon, actively to CARICOM,” he stated.
Students from both Saba and Sint Maarten participate in the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) system, and Curacao has been involved with the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD). Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten have been actively engaged with the Caribbean Regional Public Health Agency (CARPHA).
