New Ambassador of the Holy See to CARICOM accredited

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) accredited a new Ambassador from the Holy See on Wednesday, and both sides used the opportunity to express concern about inequitable access to vaccines to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As the world grapples with controlling, containing and eventually ending the coronavirus pandemic, the Caribbean Community is deeply concerned at the current inequitable access to vaccines,” CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque said in remarks at the Accreditation Ceremony for H.E. Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu.  “Given the high potential for rapid transmissibility of the virus, all countries are vulnerable and should work together”, he added.

Ambassador Nwachukwu, in noting Pope Francis’ persistent call for outreach to the more vulnerable, and for protection of the world from avoidable disasters, said:

“In the face of the covid-19 pandemic, the Pope has been vocal in calling for just international solidarity to ensure that vaccines and other remedies are made available to all, especially the less privileged of our society. In the presence of interpersonal and international conflicts, he keeps calling for dialogue as the best way to reach durable and fruitful solutions,” Ambassador Nwachukwu added.

Secretary-General LaRocque urged the Vatican to lend its voice in support to CARICOM’s call for a Global Summit to address the equitable access issue. CARICOM’s call, made to the World Health Organisation’s Director General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, is for a Summit to be held in the context of the WHO’s ACT-A Facilitation Council. Last week, the call received the support of the Community Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

Read remarks made at the Accreditation Ceremony:

H.E. Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu

Ambassador Irwin LaRocque

Watch video of the Ceremony;

Source: CARICOM TODAY