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CARICOM receives new UK plenipotentiary representative
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) yesterday at Guyana’s Secretariat at Liliendaal received the credentials from the United Kingdom (UK) plenipotentiary representative to CARICOM, Victoria Dean.
The Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque received High Commissioner Dean’s credentials. He said that CARICOM’s relationship with the United Kingdom is a “historically important, strong and strategic one that is always evolving as the best relationships tend to do”
From left Ambassador Irwin LaRocque and UK’s representative to CARICOM Victoria Dean
LaRocque said that Dean’s role as UK’s plenipotentiary is a key one that facilitates the fluid exchange of communication. The Secretary General acknowledged Dean’s experience, especially within the European Union.
The Secretary General said that the torrential rains which devastated St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia and Dominica are a somber reminder of the vulnerabilities that CARICOM is faced with.
He acknowledged the swift response by the UK Government to assist the countries in distress. He saw this as a “full testimony to the strength of our relationship. The devastation brought by that unusual weather event was a stark reminder that climate change and its related natural disasters, with consequential environmental damage is a reality for us.”
High Commissioner, Victoria Dean, who recently became the British High Commissioner to Guyana, said that she is delighted to be the representative of the Caribbean Community here in Georgetown Guyana.
She noted that CARICOM objectives include a whole range of things, the promotion and support of the countries and community in their relationships with countries like the UK. She acknowledged the importance of the UK’s and by extension her role with CARICOM on trade, employment and diplomacy on the global front.
Dean also spoke to the APD affecting the Caribbean. “In the Budget announcement in the UK the Minister for Finance of the Exchequer was able to announce that there would be a re-banding of the APD applied and we will move to two bands in April 2015. This, I hope, is what the Caribbean Community is looking for; I have heard many arguments in favour of the re-banding in the four months that I have been in the region.”
“I hope it will have an impact on all kinds of things, to some extent on tourism and to some extent on the diaspora, a very important move I think in the UK’s understanding of some of the things that really affect this region and this community.”
Dean mentioned that organizations have to adapt to survive and stay relevant and that is no different with CARICOM. She however, expressed hope that the UK “can continue to help you in that endeavour in any way that we can.”
She said that she is an “avid believer in the importance of regional cooperation and integration and the many often unseen and unexplained benefits that that cooperation can bring to countries and to systems.
I know how complex and tricky the development and integration experience can be, these bodies take time and care to build and the UK firmly believes that there is a growing role to play and we want to work with you to help you foster that.”
CARICOM is the Regional body in the Caribbean and cooperation among CARICOM states is imperative “in the increasingly tough world circumstances that we face. But cooperation between CARICOM and its friends and Partners has an important role to play too and I am delighted to be part of that journey” said Dean.
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