| (CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen,
Greater Georgetown, Guyana) High-ranking Caribbean
Community (CARICOM) Officials are now fine-tuning
their slate of issues in preparation for high level
talks with US President George Bush at the White
House in Washington, on Tuesday, 20 June, 2007. This
summit between CARICOM Heads of State/Government is
a major highlight of the three-pronged landmark
Conference on the Caribbean 2007, June 19-21 in
Washington, under the theme: Conference on the
Caribbean: A 20/20 Vision.
During the packed three-day agenda, CARICOM
Foreign Ministers will meet with the United States
Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, Members of the
Ways and Means Committee and the Sub-Committee of
Western Hemisphere Affairs of the United States
Congress.
These latter discussions are expected to lead to
a framework cooperation arrangement that could be
implemented, regardless of the composition of the
executive branch of the United States Government.
Chairman of the Conference’s major organising
body - the Washington based CARICOM Caucus of
Ambassadors – Ambassador Ellsworth John says, the
Government to Government dialogue is "intended to
establish the highest political commitment on behalf
of the United States and the CARICOM member States
to a consensus based programme to stimulate growth,
development and enhanced security in the Region."
While it is expected that a number of the issues
brought to the conference table by both parties will
overlap, high on CARICOM’s agenda are issues
relating to immigration; crime and security;
economic trade goals; regional integration;
cooperation on education initiatives; the potential
for expansion of collaboration in border security; a
review of energy goals; and employment and
development assistance issues especially as the
latter relates to Haiti.
Similarly, the US Government is expected to bring
to the table a schedule of issues, which includes
the promotion and strengthening of democratic
institutions; issues related to economic growth and
development such as the development of mechanisms to
reduce trade barriers and ensure future technical
dialogue; the strengthening of social capital
through expanded cooperation in health care and
education as a means of advancing regional
prosperity as well as security and environmental
issues.
The Government-to-Government meeting is
considered vital in serving as a catalyst for a
renewed, enlightened partnership between the US and
CARICOM Member States. One of the anticipated
outcomes is the institutionalisation of the process
of dialogue as an ongoing mechanism to further
strengthening and developing the partnership with
the US in tangible and concrete ways at several
levels.
This is especially crucial in the context of the
advancement of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy
(CSME) and the implications of US policy direction
for regional integration. The United States is the
Region’s closest developed country neighbour, its
major trading partner and the home of the largest
number of migrants from the Caribbean region. The
policies adopted by the region could be bolstered by
policies taken by the US and at the same time
domestic and foreign policy direction of the US may
impact the Caribbean economies.
While it is expected that the Community’s
flagship - the CSME - will better equip the Community to
assert itself in the global economy, its
relationship with the major global partners is an
important element in the achievement of the Region’s
development goals.
The Conference on the Caribbean 2007 is regarded
as one of the most forward-looking initiatives to
emerge in CARICOM/US relationship in recent years.
Contact :
piu@caricom.org
|
