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The Conference on the Caribbean, which
brought together heads of state of the countries of the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM), was held in
Washington, D.C. June 19-21, 2007. The Conference aimed to further
strengthen the relationship between the United States and CARICOM and to
promote regional development with the assistance of the Caribbean
Diaspora. The Conference fostered a dialogue on priority issues facing
the Caribbean through the staging of three fora: an Expert Forum, a
Private Sector Forum, and a Diaspora Forum.
Panelists at the Expert forum, hosted by the World Bank, addressed a
myriad of pressing issues on the regional agenda, including the role of
regional integration in increasing competitiveness, educational quality,
HIV/Aids, and non-communicable diseases. The panelists also considered
the important role that security plays in the development of the region.
Recommendations resulting from this forum included: commitment to the
Doha round and Caribbean Basin Initiative, reform of criminal justice
systems, gun control, drug interdiction and increasing collaboration
with donor agencies, mobilizing private sector investment, privatization
of water and electricity, a regional air bridge and management of public
funds.
Issues
discussed at the Private Sector forum, hosted by the Inter-American Bank
(IDB), included the main trends in bi-lateral trade flows, accessing the
services market, the role of US markets in connection with EU, and other
markets and the vulnerability of CARICOM’s trade to US competition. The
future of agriculture, barriers to financing, and the cultural and
health perspectives on trade were also cause for concern within the
region.
In
forging stronger ties, the Diaspora forum, hosted by the Organization of
American States (OAS), underscored principal challenges and
opportunities for the Caribbean-US Diaspora. Participants saw financial
empowerment, mobilization of skills, knowledge and professional networks
and engaging the youth as important focal points for contributing to a
framework for regional development.
During
the final plenary session held at the OAS, a summary of policy
recommendations were presented calling attention to reducing the
region’s vulnerability, increasing its relationship with the US and the
Caribbean-US Diaspora and garnering support for regional development
initiatives.
Considering that Trinidad and Tobago will host the Fifth Summit of the
Americas, the issues discussed at the Conference on the Caribbean have
special relevance for the Summit Process. The OAS and the Summits
Secretariat will collaborate closely with the host government and
CARICOM member states in considering many of the issues and policy
recommendations discussed at the Conference in the work leading up to
and following the Fifth Summit of the Americas in 2009. |
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