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(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen,
Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The breadth and depth of
the regional integration movement, and its impact on
the everyday life of Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
citizens are reflected on the issues before the
Thirty-Second Meeting of the Council for Trade and
Economic Development (COTED), Amb. Lolita
Applewhaite, CARICOM Secretary-General (ag) said
Thursday.
She noted in her address to the COTED’s opening
ceremony that agenda items that are engaging the
attention of the Ministerial Meeting range from
internal and external trade, free movement,
contingent rights, consumer protection, rising fuel
and food prices, to transportation, culture and
private sector organizational issues.
The agenda item on the rising price of energy and
food and its effect on the Region’s economies, was
one of the most pressing matters, she pointed out,
and added that the discussions and decision made to
overcome this challenges must be eagerly awaited by
citizens.
“It is clear therefore that decisions and
recommendations on these agenda items affect not
only states and institutions, but also the
individual citizens of our Region.
“In addition, these discussions are taking place
in an environment in which the relevance of our
integration movement is being increasingly
questioned. This year, so far, has been devoted to
introspection and a focus on the priorities for our
integration movement in all of our Councils. Indeed,
our Heads of Government will be meeting here in
Guyana over this coming weekend to discuss the way
forward for CARICOM…,” she told delegates.
CONTACT:
piu@caricom.org
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