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CARICOM accredits South African envoy
After accepting her credentials yesterday, CARICOM Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, officially introduced Her Excellency, Maureen Isabella Modiselle, South Africa’s Ambassador to the Caribbean Community, to members of the media and the executives of CARICOM, at the Headquarters of the Secretariat in Greater Georgetown.
During his address, Ambassador LaRocque expressed how happy he was to be a part of the ceremony for the presentation of the new envoy’s credentials.
South Africa’s Ambassador to CARICOM, Her Excellency, Maureen Isabella Modiselle
“It is my pleasure and honour to welcome you to the CARICOM Secretariat and to the family of Plenipotentiary Representatives to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Beyond the political affinities that bind South Africa and CARICOM, our relationship is predicated on shared values. These include a mutual aspiration to ensure that freedom, equity and the rule of law are guiding principles for our actions.
It was a commitment to such principles on our side that galvanised the Caribbean Community to support the struggle against apartheid and to assist South Africa to prepare for its post-apartheid era.”
To this end, he said that yesterday’s accreditation was testimony to a mutual desire to carry their relations to a higher plane.
“We are building a platform on which to strengthen our bilateral corporation which will be enhanced by regular political interface. It will boast investment talks and other exchanges. There is no doubt that both sides have expressed interest in talks about other important issues.”
Ambassador LaRocque said that both parties have recognized the need to reform global structures and the need to zero in on crime and security and its impact. He said that it is necessary to confront these issues if it is to strengthen partnerships.
“Both parties as members of the international community have done their part in contributing to a significant advance to the fight against crime and violence by working towards the successful conclusion of the United Nations Arms and Trade Treaty which seeks to regulate the trade in conventional arms.”
He noted as well that, for a region like the Caribbean, the proliferation of small arms has contributed to a rise in crime and violence and the treaty is but one critical tool in the fight against crime. The Secretary General then took the opportunity to thank the South African community for their continued support for this treaty.
Ambassador LaRocque also pointed out that the Commonwealth Community has placed emphasis on debt and financial challenges facing small states.
“Many CARICOM states are small and highly indebted and have graduated out of access to concessionary financing from financial international institutions and other multilateral agencies due to GDP based criteria.”
“It is important that avenues be created for renewed access to concessionary financing given our high level of economic vulnerability. South Africa has an influential voice in the Commonwealth Community and it is placed at the head of the panel to deal with human affairs.”
Taking this placement into consideration, the Ambassador noted that South Africa would serve well in representing CARICOM during discussions.
In her brief remarks, Ambassador Modiselle reminded of the importance of unity which is one of the main ingredients that led to the formation of CARICOM.
She expressed her happiness to assume the position and reaffirmed her state’s position in supporting the integration with CARICOM and being the voice of countries at the Commonwealth level.
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