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Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister, Hon. Patrick Manning (left); Barbados' Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Owen Arthur (c) and St. Kitts and Nevis' Prime Minister in discussion at the just concluded CARICOM Summit in St. Kitts. |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JULY 9TH 2006: Bananas, sugar and agriculture were among several issues discussed during the just concluded 27th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank in St. Kitts.
Heads of Government reviewed the progress made and the status of actions taken in respect of each of the constraints under the Jagdeo Initiative, and supported the initiatives being taken to increase the involvement of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in providing financing to the sector as an interim mechanism, in particular to the Private Sector, in a timely manner and through channels that are accessible.
Heads of Government under the Chairmanship of St. Kitts and Nevis' Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas also supported the mandate to establish a Regional Research and Development Committee to urgently develop the Research and Development Strategy for the Region.
"Heads of Government noted the work undertaken in the Region with respect to the preparation of a programme to combat any incidence of Avian influenza in the Region and in alerting the Region to the impending danger. They also noted the collaborative support provided by the various agencies in particular FAO/IICA/PAHO/OlE with regards to the efforts relating to prevention and ultimate control of Avian Influenza," the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting stated.
In relation to sugar, the Caribbean leaders reiterated the urgent need for the European Union to make available adequate and timely funding under their Financial Perspective 2007-2013.
They agreed that His Excellency Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, President of Guyana and Lead Head with responsibility for Agriculture, should communicate the concerns of the Community to the appropriate authorities within the European Union.
~~Adz:Right~~Heads of Government noted that CARICOM sugar-producing countries had developed integrated Action Plans for improving competitiveness of the industry, for diversification by way of value-added activities involving use of the sugar cane plant, and for transition into other economic activities and emphasised the importance of the European Union providing adequate, readily accessible and front-loaded resources to facilitate implementation of the plans.
Caribbean leaders also endorsed the decisions taken by the African-Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Ministerial Consultations on Sugar held on 28 May 2006, in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea and welcomed the initiative by the Sugar Association of the Caribbean, in collaboration with the CARICOM Secretariat, to present a concept paper for a Regional Sugarcane Policy for the consideration of the Conference at its next meeting.
They also underlined the importance of continued access at remunerative prices for CARICOM banana exports to the European Union market and in this regard emphasised the necessity for the EU to ensure that the preferential access for ACP, including Caribbean bananas is not further eroded by reduction of the current third-country tariff.
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister, Hon. Patrick Manning (left); Barbados' Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Owen Arthur (c) and St. Kitts and Nevis' Prime Minister in discussion at the just concluded CARICOM Summit in St. Kitts.
