Monday, May 11, 2009 Successful CARICOM Foreign Affairs Conference

Oscar RamjeetCARICOM Foreign Affairs Conference In Jamaica Hailed Tremendous Success

The 12th meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council for Foreign Affairs and Community Relations (COFCOR), which ended in Jamaica on Saturday, was said to be highly successful.

Chairman of the Council and Jamaica Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Kenneth Baugh, told journalists at a post-conference news briefing that the agenda was loaded with many "very interesting, very important items, and they were all dealt with.”

Among the topics dealt with were: the global financial and economic crisis, which members agreed to monitor, given the foreign policy implications for the region.

Baugh also disclosed that COFCOR will meet with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in June at San Pedro Sula, Honduras, to discuss "several poignant issues" relating to CARICOM countries.

Several issues were also identified for further discussion with Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper at the CARICOM-Canada summit, slated for the last quarter of 2009.

The issues include security concerns, trade and development agreement and the joint programming of the C$600 million in development assistance to the region under the free trade arrangement.

The incoming COFOR Chairman said, "We have received signals and some indications from Canada that they are willing to consider this development dimension. That dimension is to help Caribbean states to develop capacities for production, so that we will have the goods and services that we can take advantage of the new markets in Canada and the United States."

He also indicated that a request from the Dominican Republic to be admitted to CARICOM is under active consideration, and the Heads of Government will further discuss the issue when they meet in Guyana in July.

The Foreign Ministers also agreed that relations between the Caribbean and the African and Pacific members of the ACP are to be strengthened.

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