Caricom Heads of Government summit...Crime & Security, Economic Development tops agenda

Caricom Heads of Government summit…Crime & Security, Economic Development tops agenda

Feb 14, 2017 News

Caribbean Community (Caricom) Heads of Government will hold discussions in relation to crime and security; economic development; and international relations at the two-day 28th Intercessional confab which will

Caricom’s Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque (Second from right); flanked by Assistant Secretary-General, Foreign and Community Relations, Ambassador Colin Granderson (Second from left); and Assistant Secretary-General, Trade and Economic Integration, Joseph Cox, during the briefing yesterday.

convene in Georgetown, Guyana, Thursday.
This was according to Caricom’s Secretary-General (SG), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, during a media breif at the Caricom Secretariat in Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown yesterday.
Crime and Security
The SG told media operatives that crime continues to “pose a threat” to the Caribbean Community. He said that not only is crime a national issue for Member States, but also, a regional matter that warrants a regional solution.
Ambassador LaRocque said that the community will continue to examine ways in which crime can be reduced in the Region.
Heads of Government will also examine additional options as the conference presents an opportunity for holistic examination and the presentation of updates from Member States on implemented crime-fighting strategies, the SG noted.
The participants will also receive updates on the Guyana/Venezuela and the Belize/Guatemala border issues.
“International emerging issues on that front necessitates that Heads of Government strategise on how the interests of the community could be best served,” the SG said.

Economic Development
One of the “central” issues that will be discussed over the two days, Ambassador LaRocque divulged, is the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) which he posited, remains “unquestionably” the best vehicle to promote economic growth and development.
“There is no doubt that fully utilising the provision of the CSME will help boost prospects for growth. There has been significant progress with respect to the single market while more needs to be done with respect to the single economy.”
The SG also noted that there has been some progress in the productive sectors.
“To get a full picture of where we are in the exercise, Heads of government asked last July for the review of the status of the CSME to be done and to be presented to them at this meeting and this will be done.”
One of the productive sectors that Member States will be looking at is Tourism.
Ambassador LaRocque stated that tourism is a major contributor to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Region hence, Members will be looking at ways of enhancing the product to maximise its potential to fully assist in economic growth.
“We consulted with the Caribbean Tourism on these matters and the areas which have been identified by them for discussion are: marketing of the region; human resources development; (and) strengthening the linkages of other sectors and transportation. Some of the other sectors for which linkages will be strengthened will be agriculture and the creative industries.”
The meeting will be chaired by President David Granger, who assumed Chairmanship in January.

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