Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade
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Dr. Baugh Leads Jamaican Delegation at UK/CARICOM Forum
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LONDON (JIS):
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Dr. Kenneth Baugh is leading Jamaica's delegation at the 6th United Kingdom (UK)/Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Forum now underway in London.
The UK/Caribbean Ministerial Forum was first established in 1998 and is held every two years. UK Foreign Office Minister Meg Munn and Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer, will co-chair the two days of discussions on a range of issues including climate change, security and justice, economic development, energy and food security, and education.
The Forum was officially opened by Foreign Secretary David Miliband at a reception at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office yesterday (July 14).
Mr. Milliband said at the heart of the discussions will be the question of moving the relationship between Britain and the Caribbean community to a new dimension.
"We know the relationship we used to have, we know the relationship we've got, I think our challenge over the next two days is to map out our relationship for the future that is based on shared values," he said, adding that it was important to recognize that the relationship is changing.
"I think it's important that we're honest about the fact that our relationship is changing and it's changing because circumstances are changing. But I think it can be as strong as ever, not just at a government to government level, but also at a business level, which is why the trade round is so important. And at a people-to-people level, because in a way, the people to people links are growing - obviously tourism - but they are also growing through the contribution of people of Caribbean heritage to our country and the links that they have back to the Caribbean. And I hope that's something that we can in the next couple of days, build on," he said.
The Forum will also mark the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush in Tilbury, Essex which brought almost 500 passengers from Jamaica and other West Indian islands to UK.
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