Caricom Leaders Discuss Regional Development in the Bahamas Author: PL
The leaders of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) will discuss in the Bahamas this Thursday the development of the regional bloc, such as possible strategies to advance in their market and economy.
According to the published official program, the 44th Conference of Heads of Government of the Integrationist Community will also review food and energy security, climate finance and health care.
The participants of the event, which started the day before and will last until tomorrow, Friday the 17th, will also discuss the crises affecting Haiti, a member country of CARICOM.
Host Prime Minister Philip Davis said during a press conference before the conference last night that “they will analyze the most pressing issues in the region in order to promote closer cooperation.”
The bloc’s current interim president argued that the meeting “will seek to work out political solutions” to advance the Caribbean nations.
Speaking at the opening, the mechanism’s general secretary, Carla Barnett, said that rising prices for key products are a brake even as some Caribbean countries begin to recover from cuts caused by Covid-19.
He added that in addition to the high cost of food, fuel and services – among other things – we are suffering from the constant onslaught of climate change, with the devastation caused by storms, rain and drought.
“These challenges continue to threaten our hard-won development gains,” Barnett said.
This is especially important in 2023, when we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Community, he reminded. This is the year when we celebrate the vision created, the courage shown and the legacy left by those who have preceded us, said the Secretary General.
The event was attended by Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and Director General of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as guests.
Similarly, the Executive President of the Development Bank for Latin America, Sergio Diaz-Granados, as well as the President of the African Export-Import Bank, Benedict Okey Orama.
Caricom, made up of 15 member states and five associated companies, was founded in 1973 under the Treaty of Chaguaramas in Trinidad and Tobago.
Source: Juventud Rebelde
