Cumbre de Caricom: jefes de Estado del Caribe abordarán cooperación en economía y salud regional
Cumbre de Caricom abordará aspectos económicos y de salud regional
Los Jefes de Gobierno de la Comunidad del Caribe (Caricom) inician hoy en Barbados la cumbre intersesional de dos días, en la que el desarrollo económico y la salud pública serán temas medulares en la agenda de debates.
Mia Mottley, primera ministra de Barbados, dirigirá en condición de presidenta la 31ª Reunión entre sesiones del bloque regional, en la cual se ofrecerá información sobre el brote mundial del coronavirus, covid-19; así como de los continuos desafíos planteados por las enfermedades no transmisibles.
Los líderes examinarán el estado de implementación de las disposiciones del Mercado Único y Economía y en este sentido, sostendrán discusiones con representantes del sector privado, laboral y de la sociedad civil de la región.
En la reunión, los Jefes de Gobierno también discutirán los esfuerzos para asegurar la resiliencia de Caricom como las iniciativas de transformación digital, los desafíos de las listas negras, la eliminación de riesgos y la retirada de los servicios de corresponsalía bancaria.
Otros puntos del programa de la cumbre son la propuesta de una Cumbre Africana de Caricom y el análisis de temas regionales como la delincuencia, la violencia y la seguridad.
En la apertura de la reunión harán uso de la palabra, el Secretario General Embajador de Caricom, Irwin LaRocque; el presidente saliente y primer ministro Allen Chastanet de Santa Lucía y la anfitriona Mia Mottley de Barbados.
La Comunidad del Caribe está integrada por 15 Estados miembros y cinco asociados, quienes se reúne dos veces al año para discutir temas que afectan a la región y al mundo.
CARICOM Secretary-General meets CANADA’s Foreign Minister
CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque met with Canada’s Foreign Minister Mr Francois-Phillippe Champagne on the eve of the 31st Inter-Sessional Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Barbados, Monday.
The Foreign Minister’s visit to Barbados follows the cancellation of a trip by Canada’s Prime Minister Mr Justin Trudeau to meet with CARICOM Heads during their Meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday,
Prime Minister Trudeau had called CARICOM Chairman, Prime Minister Mia Mottley or Barbados and the CARICOM Secretary-General to indicate that due to pressing domestic matters he had to forgo travelling to Barbados to meet with his CARICOM counterparts.
He reiterated his desire to strengthen the ties between the Region and Canada and said he looked forward to another opportunity to interact with CARICOM Heads of Government.
Foreign Minister Champagne’s meeting with the Secretary-General followed an earlier engagement with the CARICOM Chairman.
Caricom Heads To Tackle Wide-Ranging Agenda
Heads of Government meet in Barbados, 18-19 February 2020, with issues ranging from current public health concerns to strengthening ties with Africa before them.
This 31st Inter-Sessional Meeting, under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, is expected to deliberate on a regional approach to the Corona Virus (Covid-19) as well as the continuing challenges posed by non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
Heads are also expected to examine the status of implementation of provisions of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). In this regard, they are expected to have an engagement with representatives of the Region’s Private Sector, Labour and Civil Society.
Among other pressing economic development matters, the Meeting is expected to discuss digital transformation in CARICOM and an action plan for elimination of regional roaming charges. The need for ongoing advocacy against the challenges of blacklisting, de-risking, and withdrawal of Correspondent Banking Services is also expected to get the Head’s attention.
The Heads are also expected to discuss a proposed CARICOM African Summit among a number of Foreign and Community relations matters.
They are also expected to address crime, violence and security issues affecting the Region.
The Meeting, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre (LESC), begins at 9:00 a.m. with Opening Remarks from:
– CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque
– Out-going CARICOM Chairman, Prime Minister Allen Chastanet of Saint Lucia
– CARICOM Chairman, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados
