CARICOM’s leadership key amidst instability in global power balances – CARICOM SG
(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) – At a time when geopolitical balances of power are in flux, CARICOM’s leadership is essential on matters of global import.
CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr. Carla Barnett, expressed this sentiment on Tuesday, 16 May, at the 26th meeting of the CARICOM Foreign Ministers in Kingston, Jamaica.
In a world where multi-lateral rules-based systems are under strain, she said that CARICOM also must rely on “focused and coordinated diplomacy.”
The Secretary-General highlighted the negative economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, divisive and challenging geopolitical issues which undermine multilateralism, and the unjust impact of climate change on Small and Low-Lying Coastal States as priority issues.
On climate change, she stated that CARICOM must continue to advocate for those who caused and continue to cause climate change to “do much more” to moderate the impact. They must also meaningfully support resilience and recovery in the countries which bear the greatest burden of climate change, Secretary-General Barnett stated.
During the meeting, CARICOM Foreign Ministers addressed how best to position the Community on the hemispheric and global stages. They also sought to advance a coordinated approach to strengthening relations with external partners.
The meeting’s agenda included matters pertaining to CARICOM’s bilateral relations with partners such as the USA, Europe, Canada, India, Africa, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba. Matters pertaining to multilateral relations with the United Nations system, the Central American Integration System (SICA), the Organisation of American States (OAS), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) were also on the agenda.
Dr. Barnett said CARICOM highly values its long-standing relationships and the solid spirit of cooperation with external partners.
“Solidarity with our partners, in a rules-based and principled content, has been mutually beneficial in the political, economic, environmental, health, scientific, and technical spheres. We look forward to continued engagement with our trusted partners to further strengthen our collective actions,” the Secretary-General stated.
While acknowledging that the task ahead is formidable, Dr. Barnett was also optimistic that CARICOM integration and its intra-community relations lay a strong foundation for the Community to devise solutions to improve the lives and livelihoods of the people of the Region.
Source: CARICOM TODAY