President Ramotar raises food bill, drugs fight at key regional meet

Jan 29, 2013 News

President Donald Ramotar, who is attending the First Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Chile, told his colleagues on Sunday, that while member states have managed to escape the effects of the financial crises with the region actually recording positive growth, when disaggregated, the situation in the Caribbean is a matter of great concern.

President Donald Ramotar and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett with other Heads of State in the Chile meeting.

Many of the countries are having tremendous difficulties and are still reeling from the effects of the crisis.
The President, in lauding the birth of the CELAC, spoke of the importance of more people-to-people contact. He posited that “at every level we should try to get to know each other.”
The challenges associated with transportation in the region were highlighted as a hindrance to integration. Infrastructure integration is also important if the region is to realise its full potential, President Ramotar said.
On the issue of the fight against drugs, Ramotar said it is no longer good enough to say that the region is not consumers and so the problem is not ours.
“The fight against drugs has to be one of cooperation amongst all countries as this transnational “business” continues to infiltrate every aspect of our societies”.
As the lead Head of Agriculture in CARICOM, the President took the opportunity to speak about cooperation in this area through learning from the Latin American countries that have transformed their agricultural sector. He mentioned the more than US$3B food import bill of the Caribbean which can be reduced if the agricultural and transport sectors improve.
Recognising the progress already made in reducing poverty, President Ramotar nevertheless referred to the many inhabitants of the region that still live in poverty. This situation is unacceptable, he said, given that the region is endowed with vast resources.
He challenged his colleague Heads of Government to work to eradicate poverty.
Further addressing human development, the President thanked Cuba for their great contributions to developing human capital in the region and more particularly Guyana.
The President also thanked the Government of Chile for the work they have done to advance the CELAC objectives and wished President Raul Castro and his Government every good wish for a successful tenure as Cuba assumes the presidency of the Organisation.
President Ramotar was accompanied by Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Audrey Waddell, Ambassador to UNASUR. (GINA)