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Press Release PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE Caribbean Community Secretariat, P.O. Box 10827, Turkey, Greater Georgetown, Guyana; Tel: 592-222-0001/0075; Fax: 592-222-0171/0095; E-mail: <[email protected]><[email protected]. NO: 148/2013 DATE: 09 July 2013 (CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE THIRTY-FOURTH REGULAR MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF GOVERNMENT OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY, 3-6 JULY 2013, PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO The Thirty-Fourth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was held at Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, from 4-6 July 2013. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, chaired the proceedings. Other members of the Conference in attendance were: the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Honourable Winston Baldwin Spencer; the Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Rt. Honourable Perry G. Christie; the Prime Minister of Barbados, Honourable Freundel Stuart; the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Honourable Roosevelt Skerritt; the Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr. the Rt. Honourable Keith Mitchell; the President of the Republic of Guyana, His Excellency Donald Ramotar; the President of the Republic of Haiti, His Excellency Michel Martelly; the Prime Minister of Jamaica, The Most Honourable Portia Simpson-Miller; the Premier of Montserrat, Honourable Reuben Meade; the Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Rt. Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas; the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Dr. the Honourable Kenny D. Anthony; the Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves; the President of the Republic of Suriname, His Excellency Desiré Delano Bouterse. Belize was represented by the Honourable Wilfred Elrington, Attorney General and Minister of Foreign Affairs. Page 1 of 19 Contact: [email protected]; Website: http//www.caricom.org & https://www.facebook.com/cc.secretariat Associate Members in attendance were: Honourable Hubert Benjamin Hughes, the Chief Minister of Anguilla; Honourable Alden M. McLaughlin Jr, Premier of Cayman Islands and Honourable Dr. Rufus Ewing, Premier of Turks and Caicos Islands. OPENING CEREMONY The Opening Ceremony took place at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s Port of Spain and was addressed by the Chairman of CARICOM, the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, outgoing Chairman, His Excellency Michel Martelly, President of Haiti, Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Rt Honourable Perry Christie, Prime Minister of Barbados, Honourable Freundel Stuart, Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr the Rt Honourable Keith Mitchell and Secretary-General of CARICOM, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque. All speakers paid tribute to the Community on its 40th Anniversary and cited its accomplishments while agreeing that more needed to be done. They acknowledged the appropriateness of the theme of the anniversary: 40 years of Integration: Celebration and Renewal. A ceremony of re-dedication to the thrust of the Treaty of Chaguaramas by all the Heads of Government of the Community was held on the date of the event at the same venue, the Chaguaramas Convention Centre. Statements were delivered by the current Heads of Government of the original signing countries, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Messages to the Conference are attached Signings During the Thirty-Fourth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, six Member States undertook twelve treaty actions. A breakdown of the treaty actions is provided below. · Agreement establishing the Caribbean Community Accreditation Agency for Education and Training (Signature by Guyana, Montserrat and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) · Agreement establishing the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (Deposited an Instrument of Ratification Barbados) · Agreement establishing the Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network Agency (Signature by Montserrat) · Agreement establishing the Caribbean Public Health Agency (Accession by Jamaica) · Amendment to the Agreement establishing the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security System (Signature by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) · Amendment to the Agreement establishing the Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network Agency (Signature by Dominica, Montserrat, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) · Protocol Amending the CARICOM Agreement on Social Security (Signature by Guyana and Montserrat) (Entry into force 4th July 2013). THE ECONOMIC SITUATION FACING MEMBER STATES AND THE REGION: A FRAMEWORK FOR REGIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community addressed the issue of the future of CARICOM economies and expressed concern that the current adverse economic circumstances of burdensome debt, fiscal unsustainability and low growth continue to be inimical to the achievement of self-sustaining economic growth based on strong international competitiveness, innovation, productivity and flexibility of resource use. Heads of Government emphasised that this serious problem was a regional one and all our citizens should be aware that this period was difficult for all Member States and a time for sacrifice notwithstanding that a few Member States were performing better than others. The situation facing the Community was grave requiring the strength of a regional approach. The reversal of these economic circumstances was therefore of utmost importance to the future of CARICOM economies. Heads of Government agreed to deepen the regional framework for growth and development through the pursuit of a development strategy which engenders inclusiveness of all stakeholders and which would lift the knowledge base, innovation capability, and entrepreneurial capacity of CARICOM Nationals to engage in competitive, higher value- added economic activities. Specifically, the Conference noted the comments by foreign financial and economic commentators which tarnished the credibility of CARICOM Member States thereby affecting their ability to raise the financial resources required to drive growth and development. Further, Heads of Government reiterated their commitment to sound and prudent economic management even as they strived to overcome the challenges resulting from the worst economic and financial crisis of this century. Accordingly, Heads of Government agreed to give immediate consideration to – Page 3 of 19 Contact: [email protected]; Website: http//www.caricom.org & https://www.facebook.com/cc.secretariat (i) design and execution of a resource mobilization strategy to facilitate targeted interventions by Governments to catalyse and ignite growth in CARICOM States; (ii) adoption of a stabilization and growth agenda which emphasizes the removal of constraints on competitive production as well as proactive facilitation and support for the private sector aimed at catalyzing growth in critical economic sectors; Heads of Government charged the Bureau of the Conference along with the Head of Government with Lead Responsibility for the CSME, Honourable Freundel Stuart, with the responsibility of advancing this decision and in this regard, the Secretariat would circulate a comprehensive programme within one month for the consideration of the Bureau. TRANSPORTATION IN THE REGION Heads of Government with regard to the Single Domestic Space (SDS), in the interest of hassle-free Travel in the Region, mandated the CARICOM Secretariat in collaboration with CARICOM IMPACS and other relevant agencies to coordinate and commence discussions on a strategy for the SDS. They referred this matter and a number of other issues in this sector to the Bureau of Heads of Government including better co-ordination among airlines in the Region with a view to providing a better service. REFORM PROCESS IN CARICOM: STATE OF PROGRESS Heads of Government recalled that the Reform Process was designed to facilitate the structured, effective implementation of the transformation of the Community and its Secretariat, in alignment with an agreed Community strategic thrust for the benefit of the people. Heads of Government noted the progress report on the Reform Process and welcomed the appointment of change drivers in each Member State and also noted that the national consultations for the preparation of the Community Strategic Plan had commenced and an indicative schedule had been agreed to by the Change Drivers. Heads of Government also welcomed the finalisation by the Community Council of the Terms of Reference for the Review of the Regional Institutions and agreed that the Review of the Community Institutions was a priority activity given its importance to the overall Reform Process in the Community. PROPOSAL FOR A HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS Heads of Government welcomed the initiative of the Government of Haiti to bring the issue to the Conference. They acknowledged that a society could be judged by the manner in which it treated its vulnerable citizens. Heads of Government recognised that developments such as Climate Change, the repercussions of the international economic and financial crises, and natural disasters had worsened the condition of poor, vulnerable and marginalized groups in our societies. In that regard they acknowledged that the differently-abled were the most affected given that they are usually among the most marginalised. Heads of Government therefore took the opportunity of this Conference to begin a regional dialogue to highlight
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