Members of the Senate,
Issues relating to Small Island Developing States, known by the acronym SIDS, were the main subject of discussions during meetings held last week in Kingston under my chairmanship.
The 25th Ministerial Session of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (the CDCC) which met on 25th April 2014 elected Jamaica, by acclamation, to the chairmanship of that body for the period 2014-2016. Representatives of nine Member States attended this session of the CDCC, with the following at Ministerial level: Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Of special note was the decision taken by the CDCC to admit Bermuda, Curacao, Guadeloupe and Martinique as Associate Members.
The Executive Director of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Mrs. Alicia Barcena, was present here in Kingston for the meetings, and provided analysis and advice on the challenges and constraints faced by SIDS in their quest to promote sustainable development.
The CDCC Meeting was preceded by the Third Caribbean Development Round Table, which was dedicated to the memory of the late Professor Norman Girvan who served with distinction as the 2nd Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States.
The Round Table was addressed by many distinguished panellists and involved discussions on building resilience in Caribbean SIDS by promoting sustainable development, addressing risk and uncertainty, identifying a more integral role for the private sector, and capitalising on the creative industries as a strategic opportunity for promoting growth…READ MORE