| There
is need for the urgent formulation of a Regional action
plan to counter natural disasters in light of the recent
events that have adversely affected the infrastructure
and economies of several Member States. This is the
conviction of Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM), Mr. Edwin Carrington who hopes that the recent
flooding in Guyana, and Hurricane Ivan’s devastation
of Grenada would propel CARICOM leaders into action
when they assemble in Paramaribo, Suriname from 16-17
February for their Sixteenth Inter - Sessional Meeting.
Briefing
the Surinamese media corps on Friday, 11 February
2005, on the key issues on the agenda of the Regional
high-level meeting, Mr. Carrington stressed that the
Caribbean is vulnerable to natural disasters, hence
the high importance attached to the issue.
With
2005 designated The Year of the Single Market, the
preparedness of Member States for the full implementation
of the CARICOM Single Market by December 2005, will
be assessed. “We have reached a stage where
the emphasis is now on the creation of a single economy,”
Mr. Carrington said. Equally important and related
to these discussions, he noted that the Heads of Government
will give attention to plans for the inauguration
of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) considered
the backbone of the CSME.
Noting
that the recent ruling of the United Kingdom Privy
Council, which nullified Jamaica’s enabling
legislation for accession to the CCJ as its final
appellate court had made the issue more urgent, the
CARICOM Secretary-General affirmed that plans for
the inauguration of the court remain on course.
On the issue of a common passport for the Region,
Mr. Carrington expressed satisfaction that Member
States have agreed on certain specifications for the
travel document. While commending Suriname’s
lead in being the first to issue a CARICOM passport
bearing the name and logo of the Community, he encouraged
others to follow suit.
In
terms of CARICOM’s external negotiations, the
Sixteenth Inter-Sessional Meeting will discuss the
perpetual challenges facing the Region in its ongoing
negotiations with the European Union (EU), the World
Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Free Trade Area of
the Americas (FTAA). CARICOM leaders are poised to
examine possible solutions to the hurdles faced by
Community Members with respect to the banana and sugar
sectors. As banana producers continue to reel from
the effects of the European Union (EU) modification
of the regime that existed in favour of Regional suppliers,
Mr. Carrington said leaders have the dual challenge
of negotiating with the EU and settling differences
among traditional and non-traditional ACP banana suppliers,
even as they brace for the full impact of adjustments
to the sugar protocol.
At
the Meeting the CARICOM Heads of Government will exchange
view with the new EU Commissioner for Development
Louis Michel and Brazil’s President Luis Ignacio
Lula Da Silva. Regional Heads will also deliberate
over issues such as crime and security, HIV/AIDS and
preparations for the staging of the 2007 Cricket World
Cup.
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