La Caricom debate la unidad para combatir el cambio climático y el crimen organizado
La unión del Caribe, centro del debate en Caricom
La unión de la Comunidad del Caribe (Caricom) fue uno de los ejes centrales de la reunión de esta organización que sesionó ayer en el Hotel Marriot de Puerto Príncipe.
En la cita, que concluye este martes en la capital haitiana, Irwin LaRocque, secretario general de Caricom, enfatizó la necesidad de contrarrestar la amenaza del crimen y la violencia, de la misma manera que se aúnan fuerzas para combatir los efectos del cambio climático.
Durante su intervención LaRocque lamentó la pérdida de vidas humanas, lesiones y el trauma que experimentaron las familias víctimas de la violencia.
‘Es dentro de ese círculo que la batalla contra el flagelo debe comenzar’, dijo.
Desde el 2007 Caricom hizo de la seguridad uno de sus pilares y el Consejo Ministerial para la Seguridad Nacional y la Aplicación de la Ley supervisa la arquitectura de este apartado, coordinado por la Agencia de Implementación de la Caricom para el Delito y la Seguridad.
En este sentido, LaRocque sugirió revisar las estrategias firmadas hace cinco años justamente en Haití e indicó instrumentos jurídicos como el Tratado de Orden de Arresto del Caricom y el Acuerdo de Devolución o Intercambio de Activos Recuperados, ambos a la espera de ser ratificados.
El secretario general señaló, además, que estaban trabajando en una estrategia contra el terrorismo, y advirtió la vulnerabilidad de la región.
‘Un acto de terrorismo o extremismo violento en un Estado miembro resonará y tendrá repercusiones en nuestra región’, dijo.
A puertas cerradas, la agenda de la reunión del Caricom en Haití promete abordar otras temáticas como la interconexión de los estados miembros, la formación de un mercado y economía únicas y la trasparencia fiscal en la región.
El evento continuará este martes y reúne en la nación caribeña a 15 jefes de Estado y representantes de tres países asociados.
Concluye hoy en Haití reunión de Caricom
Asegurar la integración y dejar como legado una Comunidad del Caribe más fuerte es uno de los objetivos del mandatario de Haití, Jovenel Moise, presidente pro tempore de Caricom, organismo que concluye hoy sus sesiones en esta capital.
La cita, que busca crear una región resiliente para enfrentar el cambio climático en 2018, debate además sobre la ampliación de la política comunitaria, las relaciones fronterizas entre algunos de sus países y el desarrollo del turismo.
En su discurso inaugural, Irwin LaRocque, secretario general de Caricom, hizo hincapié en la necesidad de formular estrategias efectivas que disminuyan el crimen y la violencia, principal flagelo que afecta a las familias y terminan con la vida de muchos seres humanos.
De igual manera se reiteró la importancia de extender los lazos comerciales y de cooperación, así como la unidad regional como eje para la gestión de riesgos y desastres.
El transporte y libre circulación en el Caribe, el mercado y la economía únicos y la lucha contra el terrorismo, son otras temáticas del encuentro que cierra sus puertas este martes en la capital haitiana.
Crime, violence taking heavy toll on society – CARICOM SG
Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Amb. Irwin LaRocque, called on the Community to counteract the threat of crime and violence, when he addressed the opening of the Twenty-Ninth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government earlier today in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
“As we pool our resources and strategise to combat the damaging effects of climate change, we need to do so as well to counteract another threat to our societies…. I refer to the effects of crime and violence,” he said.
Amb. LaRocque pointed to the toll on societies through loss of lives, injuries and psychological trauma and observed that the greatest impact was on families.
“It is within that circle that the battle against the scourge must begin,” he said.
About Security in CARICOM
In 2007, the Caribbean Community made Security its fourth pillar of regional integration arrangements, as it sought to strengthen the security architecture and its efforts to harmonise the fight against crime. The Ministerial Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE) has oversight of the Region’s security architecture, while operationally, the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) is the coordinating Institution.
At the regional level, the Secretary-General suggested revisiting the CARICOM Crime and Security Strategy (CCSS) signed five years ago in Haiti to identify areas for improvement in order to make it more effective.
He pointed also to a number of legal instruments which he said were significant additions to the Community’s armoury against trans-border crime. In this context, he singled out the CARICOM Arrest Warrant Treaty and the Agreement on the Return or Sharing of Recovered Assets, and stated that he looked forward to the “Treaty being ratified as soon as possible” and to the completion of the negotiations for the Agreement.
The CARICOM Arrest Warrant Treaty simplifies the procedure of returning fugitives to the country where charges have been laid, while the Agreement on the Return or sharing of Recovered Assets provides a framework for the return or sharing of criminal assets which have been moved to another jurisdiction.
The Secretary-General informed his listeners that the Region had been working on a Counter-Terrorism Strategy. He drew attention to the very nature of the Community’s interconnection and its vulnerability.
“…an act of terrorism or violent extremism in one Member State will resonate and have repercussions through our Region,” he said.
Ambassador LaRocque reminded the audience that the issue of crime and violence was a regional problem that demanded a regional solution and that it required the full cooperation of all the national and regional agencies charged with the responsibility for addressing crime and security. Counter-terrorism and crime and violence are among the key matters the Heads of Government will address during their two-day meeting.
Accelerate use of CSME provisions to help build economic resilience – CARICOM SG
Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General, on Monday said that substantial progress had been recorded in the regional integration movement, particularly with the Single Market component of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). He acknowledged, however, the need to implement the existing plan for outstanding issues regarding full compliance within a specified time frame.
The Secretary-General was at the time making remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the Twenty-Ninth Intersessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
The CSME is one of the main matters that the Heads will discuss during their two-day meeting. Among the specific issues they will address are administrative requirements in the process to acquire a Skills Certificate, and the procedures to which Member States must adhere with respect to refusal of entry of CARICOM nationals. Heads of Government, in 206, had mandated a comprehensive review of the CSME, the Region’s flagship programme.
The CSME was conceived by CARICOM in 1989. The Single Market component came into being in January 2006. The CSME is intended to better position Member States to grow by accessing and using their combined, rather than individual resources. Its successful Legal and Institutional measures and mechanisms include transforming regional arrangements into domestic law. There have also been agreements and arrangements to establish and operationalise various Community institutions needed for the effective operation of the CSME. These include the Barbados-based CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), the CARICOM Competition Commission (CCC) headquartered in Suriname, the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) in Barbados, and the Trinidad and Tobago based Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS).
In Haiti yesterday, the Secretary-General said “we must accelerate the use of the provisions of the CSME to help us build our economic resilience.” He noted the eagerness of Haiti to complete its internal arrangements to become CSME-compliant. The Secretary-General on Friday, last, in Port-au-Prince, participated in a forum on the CSME involving members of Haiti’s private sector, youth and civil society which inspired his belief that their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit will ensure Haiti plays a major role in the CSME.
Given the importance of transportation to the efficacy of the CSME, he said that this sector will receive a boost during the Meeting with the New CARICOM Multilateral Air Services Agreement being ready for signature.
Seen as a major development, the Agreement expands the scope for airlines owned by CARICOM nationals to provide air services throughout the Community. It also allows for no restriction on capacity or traffic rights, and is expected to facilitate increased intra-regional travel as well as cost-effective cargo options.
