The Thirtieth Regular Meeting of the Conference
of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) was held at the Guyana International
Convention Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown,
Guyana from 2-5 July 2009. The President of Guyana,
His Excellency Bharrat Jagdeo presided.
Other members of the Conference in attendance
were: the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda,
Hon. Winston Baldwin Spencer; the Prime Minister of
The Bahamas, The Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham; the
Prime Minister of Barbados, Hon. David J. H.
Thompson; the Prime Minister of Belize, Hon. Dean
Oliver Barrow; the Prime Minister of the
Commonwealth of Dominica, Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit;
the Prime Minister of Grenada, Hon. Tillman Thomas;
the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Hon. Bruce Golding;
the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Hon. Stephenson
King; the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves; the
President of Suriname, His Excellency Drs. Runaldo
R. Venetiaan; and the Prime Minister of the Republic
of Trinidad and Tobago, Hon. Patrick Manning.
Hon. Alrich Nicolas, Minister of Foreign Affairs
represented Haiti, Hon. John A. Osborne Minister of
Education, Health and Community Services represented
Montserrat, His Excellency Delano Bart, Ambassador
Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary represented the
Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Associate Members in attendance were: the Chief
Minister of Anguilla, Hon. Osbourne B. Fleming; the
Premier of Bermuda, Hon. Ewart Brown, and Hon. Mark
Scotland, Minister of Health represented the Cayman
Islands.
OPENING CEREMONY
The Chairman of CARICOM, H.E. Bharrat Jagdeo, the
Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon Baldwin
Spencer; the Prime Minister of Belize, Hon Dean
Barrow; the Prime Minister of Grenada, the Hon
Tillman Thomas and the CARICOM Secretary-General
H.E. Edwin Carrington addressed the Opening
Ceremony.
President Bharrat Jagdeo, Chairman of the
Community, in his address, enumerated the several
socio-economic challenges being faced by the
Community, the majority of which, he stated, were a
result of the global financial crisis but also noted
that the Region had made significant strides in its
democratic process; its positive record of human
rights; its model of peace and its unity of voice in
critical matters, with particular reference to
Climate Change.
He emphasized that there was a need for
institutional strengthening since there was “no
alternative to integration” and urged the Community
to consider the European Union which continued to
pursue higher forms of integration. President Jagdeo
called on his colleague Heads of Government to
preserve the popular faith in the cause of the
integration movement, pointing out that the goals of
the Community were more relevant now than in 1973,
when the Treaty was signed.
Prime Minister Thomas, stated that the Community
had weathered the global financial storm and had
responded positively to the challenges, especially
in areas such as democracy and governance, building
human capital and capacity; Information and
Communication Technologies and knowledge
improvement. He added however, that the response
could be magnified if Community leaders adhered to
the spirit of the Grand Anse Declaration which
sought to deepen the integration process.
Prime Minister Barrow, immediate past Chairman of
the Community, said the Community remained resilient
in the face of the global recession, and its leaders
were unanimous in their determination to stay the
course. He outlined several achievements of the
Community, including the critical role it played in
the recently concluded United Nations Conference on
the Global Financial Crisis; its advocacy for Cuba’s
re-integration into the Organisation of American
States (OAS) and the hosting of the Fifth Summit of
the Americas.
Prime Minister Spencer noted that the challenges
of the Community were great but not insurmountable
and re-affirmed his government’s unswerving
commitment to the principles of the integration
movement.
In his statement, the Secretary-General
emphasised the importance of the ensuing three-day
deliberations, noting that the outcomes must lead to
a reinvigoration of the integration process and to a
renewal of the commitment to the building of a
Community For All. To achieve that goal, the
Secretary-General declared, the debate must lead to
a rekindling of the spirit of hope and expectation
among the people of the Community and thereby to
their re-engagement in the construction of our
Community.
AWARDS
Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC)
Mr. Percival J. Patterson, former Prime Minister
of Jamaica, was invested with the Community’s
highest honour, the Order of the Caribbean
Community. In presenting the award, the Community
heralded him as the doyen of regional development
and cooperation who was instrumental in the
completion of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that
forms the legal basis of the CARICOM Single Market
and Economy. In accepting the honour, Mr Patterson
acknowledged that he was an incurable regionalist
and encouraged the Heads of Government to nurture
the Community.
Listing notable achievements of the Community, Mr
Patterson said those positives were not intended to
suggest that all was well but to encourage Heads of
Government on the journey to realising the mission
of improving the quality of life for the people of
the Caribbean.
Annual CARICOM 10K Road Race
Presentations were also made to the winners of
the Fifth CARICOM 10K Road Race which was staged on
Sunday 28 June 2009 in Georgetown. President Jagdeo
presented the CARICOM Chairman’s Trophy to Guyana’s
Cleveland Forde, while Secretary-General Carrington
presented the CARICOM Secretary-General’s Trophy to
the Hon Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad
and Tobago who accepted on behalf of Ms Shermin
Lasaldo.
MESSAGES
Messages were received from the Leader of
Government Business in the Cayman Islands (which
is attached) and from the Secretary-General of
the United Nations.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Global Economic and Financial Crisis:
Regional Impact and Response
Heads of Government considered the effects of the
global economic and financial crisis on the
Community and established a Task Force led by the
President of Guyana and including four other members
of the Conference - CARICOM Secretary-General;
President of the Caribbean Development Bank;
Director General of OECS and the Director of the
Caribbean Centre for Money and Finance to facilitate
mobilisation of funds and present a core set of
proposals for going forward. Heads of Government
issued a
Declaration on the Financial Sector which is
attached.
Tourism
Heads of Government also considered the impact of
the global economic and financial crisis on the
tourism sector and agreed that implementation of the
Regional Marketing Programme was urgent.
Heads of Government agreed to pursue with the
Government of the United States the establishment of
more pre-clearance facilities in the Caribbean.
Heads of Government reiterated their deep concern
with regard to the proposed Air Passenger Duty (APD)
as it applies to travel from the UK to the
Caribbean, as it would not only greatly increase the
cost of travel from the UK to the Region but would
also put the Caribbean at a disadvantage in relation
to other more distant destinations. The Heads of
Government agreed to continue pursuing vigorously
the matter with UK policymakers in order to ensure
that a more equitable band of the APD is applied to
Caribbean travel.
Agriculture and Food Security
Heads of Government reaffirmed their commitment
to providing financial and other support measures
for agriculture. They underscored the importance of
agriculture for food and nutrition security and for
the development of our economies and issued a
Declaration which is attached.
Services
Heads of Government welcomed the staging of the
Regional Symposium on Services which will be held in
Antigua and Barbuda from 15-17 July 2009 and agreed
that delegations to the Symposium from Member States
should include ministerial and senior public sector
officials.
Heads of Government looked forward to receiving
the Draft Strategic Plan for Services and the Plan
of Action for the next five years, which is to be
considered by COTED and presented at the next Inter-Sessional
Meeting of the Conference scheduled for Dominica in
2010.
Information and Communication Technology for
Development (ICT4D)
Heads of Government agreed to mandate the
Ministers with responsibility for Information and
Communication Technologies to lead the process in
developing the long term strategy and plan of action
for the ICT sector into 2020, which should be
presented to the Conference at the next Inter-sessional
Meeting.
Heads of Government reiterated their support for
the Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network (CKLN)
and urged that steps be taken to establish it as an
agency of the Community.
CARICOM Single Market and Economy
Heads of Government received the information on
the audit of the CARICOM Single Market
implementation and agreed to hold a convocation on
the CSME involving all stakeholders, which would
give full consideration to that Report.
Heads of Government commended Haiti for the
actions taken to date in preparation for the
commencement of trade in goods with other Member
States from 1 January 2010.
Heads of Government agreed that Member States
would immediately implement the entry procedures for
right of establishment and temporary movement of
service providers, particularly in light of the
potential for increased extra-regional competition
resulting from the implementation of the EPA and
other agreements.
Free Movement of persons
Heads of Government re-affirmed the goal of free
movement of persons as expressed in Article 45 of
the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and that free
movement is an essential element of the CSME but
given the current global economic and financial
crisis, its full implementation at this point in
time will be challenging for some Member States;
They recognized, that notwithstanding challenges
from time to time, the free movement of graduates,
artistes, media workers, musicians, sportspersons,
teachers, nurses, holders of associate degrees and
artisans with a Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ)
has generally been implemented satisfactorily.
Heads of Government also re-affirmed that
migration is a human right though circumscribed by
national law.
Heads of Government further recognised that in
the spirit of the Revised Treaty and the requisites
of international law, all migrants should be
accorded humane treatment.
Heads of Government agreed that the schedule of
free movement of persons within the Single Market
would be reviewed at the CSME Convocation to be
convened in October, with a view to advising on the
timetable for full free movement.
They also agreed that household domestics who
have obtained a Caribbean Vocational Qualification
or equivalent qualification will be allowed to move
with effect from 1 January 2010.
Heads of Government further agreed on the
importance of training and sensitising Immigration
Officers on the implementation of the Region’s
approach to free movement and hassle free travel.
Trade in Goods Heads
of Government agreed that there was urgent need
to establish an effective regional regime of
sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. They
mandated the COTED to advise on arrangements for the
establishment of the Caribbean Agricultural Health
and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA), while considering
interim arrangements in respect of the functions to
be fulfilled by the CAHFSA. They also welcomed and
accepted the offer by Suriname to host the CAHFSA.
Heads of Government further agreed that Member
States should extend to intra-regional imports of
new food products treatment no less favourable than
that extended to extra- regional imports of new food
products, including risk assessments inspections.
HUMAN AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Health
Heads of Government re-affirmed their commitment
to the Nassau Declaration on Health and Development.
They agreed to support the new approach adopted for
the roll out of the priorities of the Regional
Health Strategy, Caribbean Cooperation in Health
III. They urged speedy implementation of the
identified projects and approved the donor forum to
be convened later this year. Heads of Government
also noted the progress towards the establishment of
the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and
thanked Trinidad and Tobago for its offer to host
the Headquarters. They committed to support the
activities related to the identified six super
priorities of the 2007 fifteen point Declaration of
Port of Spain on Chronic Non –Communicable Diseases
and endorsed the theme for Caribbean Wellness Day
2009 – ‘Love that body’. The Conference also gave
their commitment to robust support for national
level celebration of CWD on Saturday, September 12.
Heads of Government considered the request of
PANCAP for counterpart support from Member States
for the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework (CRSF
2008-2013).
H1N1 Virus
Heads of Government acknowledged the
effectiveness of the response so far, including the
new Cruise Ship Protocol. Whilst not all countries
are yet affected, they expressed hope that the
global efforts for low cost approaches, including an
effective vaccine will bear early fruit.
Towards the Establishment of the Caribbean
Public Health Agency (CARPHA)
Heads of Government approved, in principle, the
timetable for the implementation of the Caribbean
Public Health Agency (CARPHA), which would
rationalise the regional public health sector,
bringing five regional institutions under one
governance structure and recorded their appreciation
to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for
agreeing to host the Headquarters of the CARPHA.
They urged that the transition plan for phasing out
the five Regional Health Institutions (RHIs) into
CARPHA be carefully managed to minimise the
dislocation to the public health functions currently
being provided to the peoples of the Region.
Youth Development
Heads of Government agreed to convene a Special
Summit on Youth in the final quarter of 2009 in
Suriname, to discuss the findings and
recommendations of the CARICOM Commission on Youth
Development, which was mandated by the 27th Meeting
of the Conference to provide a full scale analysis
of the challenges and opportunities for youth in the
CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and to make
recommendations on how to improve their well-being.
Crime and Security
Heads of Government agreed to re-activate the
security facilities put in place for CWC2007 and the
Fifth Summit of the Americas for the Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November 2009
and ICC World 20/20 Tournament to be held in the
Caribbean in 2010. They also agreed to proposals for
implementing the CARICOM Travel Pass (CARIPASS), the
Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) and the
programmes for the control of small arms and light
weapons associated with violent crimes and gang
violence.
Heads of Government discussed the pledge made by
the President of the United States of America during
the Summit of the Americas of US$30 million to
support the joint development of a strategy of
co-operation, mutually beneficial partnership and
information sharing with the Caribbean and
determined the way forward to engage the United
States. They further agreed to the re-activation of
the Resource Mobilisation Sub-Committee (RMC) to
manage the US Assistance in the area of security and
other offers of assistance.
Human Resource Development
Heads of Government expressed appreciation for
the efforts being made by the University of the West
Indies (UWI) in the areas of research for
development, expansion of access, collaborative
initiatives with national universities and community
colleges to promote access and research, and gave
their commitment to assist in identifying sources of
support.
Climate Change
Heads of Government noted the progress of
negotiations of a new global Climate Change
Agreement leading to the Fifteenth Meeting of the
Conference of Parties (COP15) to the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change to be held in
Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009, and agreed on
the Region’s priorities, which include the reduction
of Green House Gas (GHG) emissions; mitigation and
adaptation; the transfer of technology; renewable
energy; forest conservation and avoided
deforestation.
Heads of Government endorsed the Caribbean
Challenge in its efforts to protect the Region’s
Marine Resources and in its work towards fulfilling
the UNFCCC ecosystem-based management and adaptation
recommendations, and implementing the Millennium
Development Goals related to reducing biodiversity
loss.
Heads of Government issued a
Declaration on Climate Change which is attached.
Governance Issues
Heads of Government reviewed the governance
arrangements of the Community and expect to conclude
their considerations on the basis of proposals to be
advanced by the Secretary-General and the Task Force
on Governance.
Turks and Caicos Islands’ Constitutional Issue
Heads of Government reviewed the situation in the
Associate Member Turks and Caicos Island and agreed
to issue the following Statement:
Statement on the situation in Turks and Caicos
Islands (TCI)
The Member States of the Caribbean Community
reiterate their view that respect for the rule of
law, representative democracy and integrity in
public life are fundamental elements of good
governance to which they all strongly adhere.
Accordingly, they were deeply disturbed by the
adverse findings of Turks and Caicos Commission of
Inquiry into possible corruption or other dishonesty
in relation to past and present elected members of
the Legislature.
The Caribbean Community continues to hold fast to
the view it expressed in its statement on the
situation in the TCI on 24 March 2009 that
suspending the Constitution of TCI and its
democratic institutions and resorting to direct rule
by the colonial power are not the most effective
tools to bolster good governance and effective
administration in the territory.
The Community therefore regrets that the
intervening period was not used more profitably to
find solutions that would avert the threatened
constitutional and democratic dislocation. In this
regard, the rejection by the governor of the
proposal of the new Premier to allow the people of
TCI to elect a new government which could have
adopted and implemented the measures required to
improve the administration of the territory and
strengthen integrity in public life was,
regrettably, a lost opportunity. The people of the
Turks and Caicos Islands and their ability to govern
themselves in the long run will benefit far more
from strengthening their administrative and good
governance processes through their own efforts than
by the administrations through the governor under
direct rule.
Border Issues
Guyana – Venezuela Relations
Heads of Government noted the impending
consultations between Guyana and Venezuela on the
identification of a candidate to perform the duties
of a Special Representative of the United Nations
Secretary-General with respect to the Good Offices
Process and underscored the critical importance of
the Special Representative in assisting the
Secretary-General in the search for a practical
solution to the controversy which was initiated by
the contention of Venezuela that the Arbitral Award
of 1899, which settled the boundary between Guyana
and Venezuela, was null and void. Heads of
Government reaffirmed their view that the post
needed to be filled at the earliest possible time.
Heads of Government re-affirmed their unequivocal
support for the safeguarding of Guyana’s territorial
integrity, sovereignty and its right to develop its
resources in the entirety of its territory.
Belize–Guatemala Relations
Heads of Government received a report on the
status of relations between Belize and Guatemala.
They expressed their satisfaction on the successful
negotiation and signing of the Special Agreement by
both Governments to refer the territorial dispute to
the International Court of Justice for final
settlement, subject to the approval of their
citizens in national referenda. In this context,
Heads of Government called on the international
community, particularly the “Group of Friends” to
support and assist the process both politically and
financially. Heads of Government emphasised the need
to continue funding the operations of the Office of
the Organization of American States located on the
Adjacency Zone that has successfully supported the
efforts of both governments in maintaining peace and
security and in reducing tensions along the border
communities in both countries. Heads of Government
reaffirmed their unequivocal support for the
territorial integrity and sovereignty of Belize.
Diplomatic Academy by the Government of
Trinidad and Tobago
Heads of Government noted the decision of the
Government of Trinidad and Tobago to establish a
diplomatic academy before the end of 2009 which
would not only provide training and research but
also serve as a think tank and in due course, be
open to Member States.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
External Trade Negotiations
Heads of Government, in keeping with their
decision to incorporate the Caribbean Regional
Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) into the CARICOM
Secretariat as a Specialised Department, agreed to
redesignate the CRNM as the Office of Trade
Negotiations. Heads of Government also appointed
Ambassador Gail Mathurin of Jamaica as
Director-General, in succession to Ambassador Mr.
Henry Gill.
Heads of Government reviewed the status of
implementation of the CARIFORUM-EC Economic
Partnership Agreement (EPA) and noted that some
progress had been made by CARICOM signatory states
in this regard.
They acknowledged that a number of important
matters remain to be addressed as a consequence of
provisional application of the Agreement from 29
December 2008. They reviewed measures to be taken in
relation to the establishment of institutions to
manage the Agreement, particularly those that would
facilitate an early meeting of the Joint Ministerial
Council and the Joint Trade and Development
Committee.
Heads of Government reaffirmed their commitment
to securing a Trade and Development Agreement with
Canada, which would provide for specific measures to
facilitate the Region’s structural transformation;
assist in building export capacity and contribute to
enhancing its competitiveness.
Heads of Government agreed that discussions with
MERCOSUR later this year should focus on concluding
arrangements for functional cooperation which would
place the Region in a better position to engage
MERCOSUR on closer trade relations in the near
future. Heads of Government reaffirmed support for
Trinidad and Tobago to pursue bilateral arrangements
with the United States in relation to certain
products of export interest to that Member State.
Heads of Government agreed to intensify efforts
to persuade the European Union on the need for a
smaller reduction of the MFN tariff for bananas and
a longer transition period for its implementation.
They also agreed to take concerted action at the
highest political level of the European Union,
consistent with other ACP banana exporting
countries, to obtain a flexible, front-loaded and
speedily disbursed financial package that fully
takes into account the losses in export earnings and
adjustment costs that will be incurred by banana
exporting countries. Heads of Government underlined
that a positive response by the EU in respect of
both issues would be in keeping with the spirit of
the Joint Declaration on Bananas annexed to the EPA.
Heads of Government acknowledged the importance
of the conclusion of the Doha Development Round
under the WTO and agreed that the Region would
continue to monitor closely, developments with a
view to safeguarding the gains already secured in
the negotiations on behalf of small vulnerable
economies and take a lead role in advancing the
other issues of concern to this group of countries.
They instructed Ministers to ensure that the Region
is well prepared to participate in the WTO
Ministerial Meeting whenever it is convened.
Exchange of views with Special Guests
Heads of Government exchanged views with the
Commonwealth Secretary-General regarding the major
themes for the agenda of the Commonwealth Heads of
Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Trinidad
and Tobago on 27- 29 November 2009 arising from his
soundings with other Commonwealth leaders. Among
those identified were responses to the global
economic and financial crises, youth and Climate
Change. The relevance of CHOGM on the latter issue
was heightened by the fact that the Copenhagen
Summit on Climate Change (COP15) would take place a
week later.
Heads of Government, in addition to the previous
issues, expressed their concern regarding funding
for development of middle income countries as well
as to the constraining issue of debt.
The Heads of Government alluded to the issue of
local governance - an area in which the Commonwealth
Secretariat had been active. Heads of Government
endorsed the strategy for approaching the
International Financial Institutions and
Multilateral Development Banks for resources to
mitigate the effects of the global financial and
economic crises on most Member States, as well as
the limited fiscal policy space for counter cyclical
activity, and agreed to follow–up with a demarche at
the highest political and institutional levels. The
importance of determining a new definition of
partnership that will emphasise equity and
sustainability in the new global circumstances of
the 21st Century was also discussed.
Organisation of American States (OAS)
In the course of their meeting with the
Secretary-General of the OAS, Heads of Government
were informed of the latest developments on the
ground and at the OAS with regard to the situation
in Honduras. Heads of Government expressed their
satisfaction with the response of the OAS which had
reacted with alacrity to the overthrow of the
President, a development which the Community had
condemned.
Heads of Government expressed the hope that both
Secretaries-General with whom they exchanged views
would advocate on behalf of the special
circumstances of the middle income countries of the
Community, which are deeply affected by the global
crisis.
Fifth Summit of the Americas
Heads of Government congratulated Trinidad and
Tobago on its successful hosting of the Fifth Summit
of the Americas, and further pledged their full
support to that country’s hosting of the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). In
noting the mandates and commitments for follow-up
from the Fifth Summit, Heads of Government urged
Member States to be vigilant in ensuring that the
necessary mechanisms and resources were in place to
facilitate the implementation of the commitments
made in the Declaration.
CARICOM – US Relations
Heads of Government welcomed the opportunity that
the upcoming Summit with the United States President
would present for improving relations with that
country. They considered the strategies and
approaches for the Community in preparation for the
Summit which is expected to be held later this year
in Washington DC.
Third CARICOM – SICA Summit
Heads of Government considered the proposal for
the Third CARICOM-SICA Summit and called on the
Secretary-General to liaise with his SICA
counterpart on the timing and agenda for that
meeting.
CARICOM-Brazil Summit
Heads of Government agreed to the proposal by the
President of Brazil, His Excellency Luis Inacio Lula
da Silva on the convening of a CARICOM-Brazil Summit
in Brazil, at the end of 2009 or early 2010. Further
work will be undertaken on the content of the
agenda.
Candidatures
Heads of Government, in accordance with
established procedures for supporting CARICOM and
non-CARICOM candidates, endorsed the recommendations
of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR)
for the following candidacies:
• Assistant Secretary-General of the
Organisation of American States - Ambassador
Albert Ramdin.
• United Nations Security Council (WEOG) –
Canada.
Candidacies received since the Twelfth Meeting of
the COFCOR in May 2009 will be considered when that
Council holds its informal consultations in
September 2009.
Heads of Government also noted that the Post of
the Assistant Secretary-General, Political Affairs
and Human Development, Secretariat of the African,
Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States for the
five year period ending 28 February 2015 had been
allocated to the Caribbean.
DATE OF THE TWENTY-FIRST INTER-SESSIONAL
MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE
In accordance with the Rotation Schedule for the
Chairmanship of the Conference for the period
January 2008 to December 2010, the Honourable
Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica, will
assume the Chair of the Conference for the six-month
period commencing 1 January 2010. It is anticipated,
therefore, that the Twenty-First Inter-Sessional
Meeting of the Conference will be held on dates to
be proposed by Dominica. The Inter-Sessional
Meetings are customarily held during the first
quarter of the year.
Georgetown, Guyana
4 July 2009
DECLARATIONS
LILIENDAAL DECLARATION ON THE
FINANCIAL SECTOR
(New Framework for Financial Regulation and
Supervision in the Region)
We, the Heads of Government of the
Caribbean Community at our Thirtieth Meeting in
Liliendaal, Guyana, 2-5 July 2009, affirm our
commitment to the principles and objectives of the
Caribbean Community as embodied in the Revised
Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the Caribbean
Community including the CARICOM Single Market and
Economy;
Having experienced the negative fallout from the
global financial and economic crisis, recognize the
need to effect appropriate reform in our financial
sector policy and the regional financial
architecture;
We recognize that:
1. Enhancing national regulatory and
supervisory systems, including rationalization
and consolidation, is critical to ensuring
safety, soundness and stability in the financial
services sector.
2. Given the considerable degree of financial
integration that exists in the Caribbean region
as a result of both organic growth and mergers
and acquisitions, intra industry cross-border
supervision needs to be enhanced by the regional
regulatory organizations – the Committee of
Central Bank Governors (CCBG); the Caribbean
Association of Insurance Regulators (CAIR); the
Caribbean Group of Securities Regulators and the
Regional Competition Commission.
3. The relatively high degree of financial
integration requires regional solutions to
financial problems. There is need for closer
collaboration among the supervisory authorities
in Caribbean jurisdictions whereby information
can be shared regularly in order to address
cross-border financial issues. In this regard we
establish a College of Regulators.
4. Continued improvement in standards for
disclosure, transparency and corporate
governance for both public and private
companies, is required for effective
surveillance, regulation and supervision. It is
important that, given the sensitive and
cross-cutting nature of financial transactions,
data and information be generated in a regular
and timely manner.
5. Early warning systems, stress testing and
the publication of financial soundness
indicators are important for monitoring at the
national and Regional levels in order to improve
detection and assessment of threats to Regional
financial stability. In this regard the Heads of
Government fully support the initiatives of the
Regional Central Banks through the Caribbean
Centre for Money and Finance (CCMF) and the
Caribbean Group of Banking Supervisors (CGBS) as
well as the Caribbean Association of Insurance
Regulators (CAIR), and the Caribbean Group of
Securities Regulators.
6. The Region is particularly vulnerable to
exogenous shocks and we are committed to
strengthening the capacity of existing Regional
agencies and mechanisms (such as the Caribbean
Development Bank, Petroleum Fund, and CARICOM
Development Fund) to perform both a
developmental and stabilization role. Support
and financing will be sought for the Regional
institutions from the International Financial
Institutions and the Multilateral Development
Banks.
7. International Financial Centres in the
Caribbean (and elsewhere) have recently been
under intense pressure. In this regard, the
Caribbean continues to enhance transparency and
strengthen regulation of its international
financial sector. Equally we call for equitable
treatment in accord with that granted to the
developed countries and other preferential
jurisdictions.
8. The central role of the Council for
Finance and Planning (COFAP) in ensuring
coherence, coordination and harmonization in the
development and integration of the regional
financial system and in reporting on regulatory
gaps and deficits. In this regard, we look
forward to the finalisation of the CARICOM
Financial Services Agreement (CFSA).
9. There is need to commit ourselves to a
vigorous and intensive review of the workings of
the regulatory and supervisory system.
4 July 2009
LILIENDAAL DECLARATION ON
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD
SECURITY
We, the Heads of Government of the
Caribbean Community at our Thirtieth Meeting in
Liliendaal, Guyana, 2-5 July, 2009, affirm our
commitment to the principles and objectives of the
Caribbean Community as embodied in the Revised
Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the Caribbean
Community including the CARICOM Single Market and
Economy -
1. We recognize the multi-functional
nature of agriculture as an important
contributor to rural development, GDP,
employment, export earnings and to the overall
sustainable development of the Member States of
the Caribbean Community;
2. Recognising that agriculture is of
strategic significance for the sustainable
development of our Region, we have identified
the sector as one of the drivers of economic
growth and poverty alleviation of the Community;
3. We acknowledge that the agriculture
sector has faced overwhelming challenges in
recent years;
4. We recognise that the further
development of the agriculture sector as
elaborated in the “Jagdeo Initiative”, including
in particular, production and productivity,
competitiveness and exports, is inhibited by key
binding constraints including a reduction in
development support and investment. We further
recognize that financing for agriculture
development is proving to be the major
limitation which is affecting the speed and
effectiveness of dealing with the other
constraints;
5. In order for agriculture to continue to
play a positive role in the Region’s economic
and social development, there is need for a more
concerted effort among all stakeholders in
addressing the challenges facing the sector.
Public sector/private sector partnership is
essential. We are also aware that Governments
must increase budgetary resources and implement
other policy incentives to buttress the
agriculture/agro-industry development agenda. It
is also vital that the multilateral trading
system take account of the special needs of
small vulnerable economies in their quest to
build and preserve their agricultural sectors;
6. We also recognize the critical role of the
fisheries sector to the livelihood and
well-being of the coastal communities and its
value to the food security needs of our people.
We also recognize the economic benefits that can
be realized from the sector.
7. We further recognise that balanced
development of rural areas and communities will
ensure the retention of skills required to
produce agri-products competitively and
sustainably manage the natural diversity, thus
ensuring the equitable distribution of income
within the rural areas and between the rural and
urban areas. We recognise as well that greater
emphasis must be placed on the more vulnerable
rural groups such as indigenous and other tribal
peoples, youth and women to bring them into the
economic mainstream;
8. The 2007/2008 Food Crisis highlighted the
urgent need to maximize Regional agricultural
production to meet our food security and
nutrition needs, address poverty alleviation as
well as income and employment generation and
ultimately our need to ensure that agriculture
be recognised as a real generator of wealth. We
recognize the need for a more coordinated
framework in developing and implementing
appropriate policies, programmes and incentives
in support of the sector’s development agenda;
9. In that regard we welcome the decision by
the United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organisation to convene a World Summit on Food
Security in November 2009 and look forward to
participating fully and effectively in the
Conference; and
10. We further recognise the
importance of effective agriculture health and
food safety systems and sanitary and
phytosanitary measures to our food and nutrition
security.
We, the Heads of Governments of the
Caribbean Community therefore renew our commitment
to pursue a strategic approach to transforming the
agriculture sector into an internationally
competitive sector with increased capacity to
contribute to the sustained economic development of
the Region, the economic livelihood of
entrepreneurs, the rural sector and to food and
nutrition security -
1. To this end, we are committed to the
provision of the necessary financial and other
resources to ensure internationally competitive,
market led production, and the identification
and effective employment of the appropriate
policies and strategies which will bring about
the desired improvements to the sector including
the agri-business sector. We call on our
development partners to assist us in our
efforts;
2. We reaffirm our commitment to remove
the following key binding constraints, identified in
the Jagdeo Initiative, to the development of the
agriculture sector and food and nutrition security
including-
(i) Limited financing and inadequate levels
of new investments;
(ii) Deficient and uncoordinated risk
management measures;
(iii) Inadequate research and development;
(iv) Outdated and inefficient agricultural
health and food safety (AHFS) systems;
(v) Weak land and water distribution and
management systems;
(vi) Inadequate transportation systems,
particularly for perishables;
(vii) Weak and non-integrated market
information and intelligence systems and
(a) Weak linkages and participation of
producers in growth market segments;
(viii) Lack of skilled and quality human
resources;
3. We also recognize the challenge posed
to small famers by the lack of adequate equipment.
4. We affirm that the production of energy
and biofuels from biomass must be increased in a
sustainable manner so as to provide for our energy,
economic, environmental and agricultural needs and
does not compromise food security;
5. We commit ourselves to provide farmers
with adequate mechanisms to manage risks and market
crises, and to establish early warning systems to
anticipate disasters such as floods and hurricanes.
6. We commit ourselves to strive against
unfair competition and agricultural trade
distortions providing farmers with new opportunities
to sell their products on world markets and support
their efforts to increase productivity and
production;
7. We agree that the priority Regional
actions in agriculture on which we will focus will
include -
(i) Elaboration of the Community Agricultural
Policy and regional Strategic Plan;
(ii) upgrading of facilities and services for
trade in agriculture products; strengthening
national and Regional (collaboration in
agriculture) research and development;
(iii) establishing an effective regime of
sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures including a
Regional Agriculture Health and Food Safety
System (CAHFSA);
(iv) developing appropriate policies and
incentives to encourage a stronger agriculture
private sector;
(v) development and implementation of a
Regional agriculture market information and
intelligence system;
(vi) addressing the inadequacy of
transportation to better enable the export of
agriculture products;
(vii) maintenance of a reliable information
platform to facilitate monitoring and evaluation
and to indicate priority areas for urgent
action;
(viii) Ensuring competitiveness in the
agriculture sector;
(ix) Ensuring that adequate land is retained
for agricultural production; and
(x) Encouraging the youth to become more
engaged in the sector.
4 July 2009
LILIENDAAL DECLARATION ON
CLIMATE CHANGE AND
DEVELOPMENTWe, the Heads of State and Government of the
Caribbean Community, at our Thirtieth Meeting of the
Conference in Liliendaal, Guyana from 2–5 July 2009,
affirm our commitment to the principles and
objectives of the Caribbean Community as embodied in
the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the
Caribbean Community including the CARICOM Single
Market and Economy -
1. Recalling the objective, principles
and commitments of the 1992 United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
and its Kyoto Protocol;
2. Gravely concerned
that our efforts to promote sustainable
development and to achieve the internationally
agreed development goals including the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are under
severe threat from the devastating effects of
climate change and sea level rise which has led
to increasingly frequent and intense extreme
weather events, damage to bio diversity, coral
bleaching, coastal erosion, changing
precipitation patterns.
3. Emphasising that dangerous climate change
is already occurring in all SIDS (Small Islands
and Low-lying Coastal Developing States (SIDS)
regions including the Caribbean and that many
SIDS will cease to exist without urgent,
ambitious and decisive action by the
international community to reduce global
greenhouse gas emissions significantly and to
support SIDS in their efforts to adapt to the
adverse impacts of climate change, including
through the provision of increased levels of
financial and technical resources.
4. Very concerned that the estimated
total annual impact of potential climate change
on all CARICOM countries is estimated at US$9.9
billion in the total Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) in 2007 US$ prices or about 11.3% of the
total annual GDP of all 20 CARICOM countries
(Member States and Associate Member States)
according to the World Bank estimates;
We Affirm:
1. Our belief that the global response to
climate change should be undertaken on the basis of
common but differentiated as well as historical
responsibility and that it should not compromise the
ability of SIDS to pursue Sustainable Development
and the sharing of the cost of addressing climate
change should be equitable and should not perpetuate
poverty.
2. Our continued commitment to the work of
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
and call on all Parties to ensure that UNFCCC
decisions are guided by that work;
3. Our Endorsement for the Caribbean
Challenge in its efforts to protect the Region’s
Marine Resources and in its work towards fulfilling
the UNFCCC ecosystem-based management and adaptation
recommendations and implementing the Millennium
Development Goals related to reducing biodiversity
loss;
4. Support for the co-ordinating role of
the CARICOM Task Force for Climate Change and
Development established by the Conference of Heads
of State and Government and the implementing role of
the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC)
and the roles of the CARICOM Secretariat, the
Alliance of Small Island Developing States (AOSIS)
chaired by the Government of Grenada and the CARICOM
Representatives in the international climate change
negotiations; and
5. The importance of a common Regional
approach to address the threats and challenges of
climate change and of the full and effective
participation of the Region in the upcoming United
Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen,
Denmark (COP15), the UN Secretary-General’s Climate
Change Summit in September 2009 and their
preparatory processes.
WE Declare:
1. That all Parties to the UNFCCC should
work with an increased sense of urgency and
purpose towards arriving at an ambitious and
comprehensive agreement at the COP 15 in
Copenhagen in 2009 which provides for: long-term
stabilisation of atmospheric greenhouse gas
concentrations at levels which will ensure that
global average surface temperature increases
will be limited to well below 1.5° C of
pre-industrial levels; that global greenhouse
gas emissions should peak by 2015; global Co2
reductions of at least 45 percent by 2020 and
reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than
95 per cent of 1990 CO2 levels by 2050;
2. Adaptation and capacity building
must be prioritised and a formal and well
financed framework established within and
outside of the Convention, including the
multi-window insurance facility, to address the
immediate and urgent, as well as long term,
adaptation needs of vulnerable countries,
particularly the SIDS and the LDCs;
3. The need for financial support to
SIDS to enhance their capacities to respond to
the challenges brought on by climate change and
to access the technologies that will be required
to undertake needed mitigation actions and to
adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change;
4. Our full support for the location
of the Headquarters of the UNFCCC Adaptation
Fund Board in Barbados;
5. Support for climate change
negotiations to be fully cognisant of the
requirement for improved land use management;
6. Our recognition of the value and
potential of standing forest, including pristine
rainforest, and our affirmation of its potential
contribution to Reduced Emissions from
Deforestation and Degradation (REDD). Forest
conservation or avoided deforestation and
sustainable management of forests are important
mitigation tools against climate change in a
post 2012 Agreement. We also support the
approach to harmonizing climate change
mitigation and economic development as proposed
by Guyana in its Low Carbon Development
Strategy;
7. Strong determination to overcome
technical, economic and policy barriers to
facilitate the development, diffusion and
deployment of appropriate and affordable low-
and zero-emission technologies and renewable
energy services; We also recognise the need for
energy efficiency and conservation and the need
for increased technical and financial support
for the development of renewable energy in the
Caribbean;
8. Our commitment to providing more
effective preparedness for response to natural
disasters through the development of better risk
assessment and material coordination along with
the streamlining of risk reduction initiatives.
In pursing this task, we call on the Parties
negotiating the new Climate Change Agreement to
endorse the Alliance for Small Island Developing
States (AOSIS) proposal on risk management and
risk reduction strategies, including risk
sharing and transfer mechanisms such as
insurance;
9. Strong support for the streamlining
of all climate change funding mechanisms
including the Global Environment Facility to
include the vulnerability index in their
formulae in order to better facilitate SIDS’
access to financial resources; and to explore
mechanisms to support the Caribbean Community
adaptation programmes;
10. Our commitment to ensuring that
the Caribbean Community and its supporting
institutions will play their full part in
implementing our shared vision, goals and
actions, working in strategic partnerships with
others;
11. Our resolve to strengthen our
educational institutions to provide training ,
education, research and development programmes
in climate change and disaster risk management
particularly in renewable and other forms of
alternative energy, forestry, agriculture,
tourism, health, coastal zone management and
water resources management to increase the
Region’s capacity to build resilience and adapt
to climate change; and
12. Our further resolve to institute a
comprehensive programme of public awareness and
education and hereby invite all, partners,
organisations and stakeholders to play a full
part in promoting a better understanding of
climate change and its impacts and in addressing
adaptation and mitigation.
4 July 2009
MESSAGES
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