The encounter between the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the President of the United States (US), Barack Obama, should mark a new and positive beginning for CARICOM-US relations, according to Chair of CARICOM, the Hon. Perry Christie.
In his address to the opening ceremony of the CARICOM-US Summit on Thursday 9 April, the Prime Minister of The Bahamas said: “The outcome of our discussions today will no doubt strengthen the partnership between us. Let build on these discussions, seeing them as part of a continuing conversation, and leaving here with a concrete set of actions which we mean to accomplish.”
Defining the Summit, held on the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica, as “a real live working relationship,” Prime Minister Christie said it reinforced the symbiotic bond that existed between the US and the Region.
The meeting, Co-chaired by Prime Minister Christie and President Obama, is the third between the two parties. It is however, the first specifically dedicated to discussing common challenges in a dedicated place, the CARICOM Chair observed.
Previous encounters took place in the margins of Summits of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago in 2009 and Colombia in 2012. Thursday’s Summit follows on the heels of another high level engagement between Caribbean leaders and US Vice President Joe Biden, late January in Washington DC at the Caribbean Energy Security Summit.
The key areas of focus of this engagement: Competitiveness, Security, and Energy, could not be more relevant as crime and security ranked high among the principle threats and obstacles to growth, Prime Minister Christie stated. He said CARICOM was dedicated to building competitiveness which would maintain the progress it had made it the areas of human and social development, and employment, particularly for the youth.
“As small states, we have long recognized the value of pooling our resources. We have adjusted our priorities to rebound from the crisis of 2009. However, it is clear that the magnitude of the issues often overwhelms the resources which CARICOM can collectively bring to bear,” PM Christie said.
Against that backdrop, he said CARICOM was pleased with the shift in US policy with respect to supporting concessional development financing for the Region in three defined areas: energy, climate change and disaster management.
Noting the high value CARICOM placed on its co-operation and the collaboration with the United States in security, Prime Minister Christie stressed the urgency of addressing transnational crime, illegal migration, and the importation of guns.
“More must be done in a practical way to stop the crime. Let us work together to build a zone of peace; to stop crime; to end the violence; promote our young and ensure our common futures.”
“Our resolve to build a better world in peace and prosperity is reinforced by this visit and these discussions,” Prime Minister Christie told the US President. In this regard, he noted CARICOM’s support of the Nuclear Framework Agreement with Iran in which the US played a major role under President Obama, and the normalization of relations between the US and Cuba.
Admin why did you not post my comment???????????? all i asked was whether anything was said by our PM. all i saw was wat PM Christie say, stressed, asked, stated etc. tsk tsk tsk.
ADMIN: Your comment did not make sense in the context of the story. The story was written based on PM Christie’s address to the summit in his capacity as chairman of CARICOM. Our PM never addressed the opening of the summit but he did addressed it on energy in which we had the full speech published on the homepage.
PM christie said; PM christie states; PM christis stressed; we know he’s the chairman. sounds like a ring game of long ago. what did our PRime Minister say???????????????????????????????
Good on you pm you right at the front, not taking a back seat. Shows that you have courage and backbone. Those poor iliterates berateing you for supporting Venuezela,what do they know about diplomacy they really should stick to what they know best which is lies, untruths, misinformation and beaf. The best PM in the caribbean and we as Dominicans should be proud of you.
this was supposed to be a joke right? You are so far from reality… Also, remember yes the United States is quite influential, and Pres. Obama is the face of the nation. However, he is merely a puppet on a string. The face of the nation. Decisions are not made like how skerrit is making them. There are three branches of government in the U.S., Legistlative (senate, house), Executive (president, and vice president), and Judicial (supreme court). Obama may have the liberty to veto a few, but he does not have full control of decision making in the Country.
skerrit on the other hand is an arrogant fool who has brain washed dominicans. Seeing skerrit standing there next to my president means nothing. No one takes him seriously.
Don’t get me wrong, I love president Obama, and voted for him both terms, however, he only has one and a half years left in office. Regardless of if another Democrat wins the next general election, this is a far as it goes.
Ah most of us love that picture of CARICOM Heads and President Obama. DNO it would help if you named the people in the picture and their country. Of course, Our PM always make us proud.
not me he making proud
Why is the PM waving like Obama lol.This time he Wright in the front. Well I never lol
the word is right……………………………….sigh
President Obama has a Grey Suit. Can we recall all the comments of the PM suit colouring, even that the UWP made a fuss about. The importance of the meeting seemed to escape them. History in the making Dominica.
Obama is wearing a suit to match the colour of his hair. That is called coordinated fashion. Thank God the man does not dye his hair or wears a dead dog on his head like that John Kerry character.
Just another set of BS. what came out of this summit and more importantly what was the purpose. Did America just wake up and realised that caribbean countries are living in a world of high energy cost. this is another attempt by the US to use Caribbean people to further its foreign affairs agenda. I do hope that our current leaders learn from history that the US cannot be trusted. This so called summit was just pretty talk, there was not even decent promise.
Exactly, and although I am an American citizen it is the truth. You have to understand, America will go above and beyond to push it’s agenda. Also, remember if it does not benefit America, they could care less. You all will see in due time
we need food security our people should be help to develop their slef reliance therefore less need to travel out leaving a brain drain vacuum i live in london,why is there not a incentive to inspire people like me to return home? only last week PM skerrit gave the chinese in china a generous offer to come settle in Dominica
Do I see Haiti’s President Martelly in the photo? Since 2011, general elections should have been held in Haiti, but democracy again eludes the Haitians. All kinds of shenanigans forestalling the democratic process. What is CARICOM saying, nothing?
The dictator Baby Doc ran in exile to France. He stole about $300 million from the people of Haiti. He returned to Haiti after Martelly became President. In spite of the people and patriotic lawyers fighting to have Baby Doc face the courts, they were blocked. The judicial system failed the people.
No Free and fair elections in Dominica. No electoral reforms. Passports selling to whoever with $$$$$$$$$. Our Diplomatic immunity selling. Corruption a plenty. CARICOM is not helping us, fighting for Free and fair elections. That’s key to development. Development is about people not passport selling and secret deals.
Some politicians bathing in wealth, quick riches by dubious means, while the majority…
we are doom in tht country
skerro look uneasy boy. he maybe wondering what to tell obama about the money for the coast guard base
all them sexy girls with labour . even Jamaica pm stating by pm skerit. lol
I Love my PM
Way to go PM, YOU there no matter what the HATERS say!
This must be one of the Idiots of the 21st century!!!
Muduro must be watching with clenched teeth and fist mustering the word “traitors”. This is the reason why we should operate on good principles. Now Venezuela is down and out and the well running dry we have left them fight their battle and kissing up with the US. Its all good.
The governments of the Caribbean need to focus on sustainable development and make better use of UWI for innovation science, technology, and development. A sound partnership with UWI and top research institutions in the US would go a long way. All the money sent home from US to Caribbean by family members have done more to help than ALBA can dream of and it has been going on for decades. I say no more.
Dominica and Caricom have not left Venezuela, this is a discussion meeting base on neutral dialog. Now attending the meeting doesnt mean that they are in accordance to all what Obama and USA does. You know nothing about diplomacy. Dominica will never forget or abandon Venezuela. We have personally benefited from Venezuela economically and socially, why should we forget them?
No, we have not forgotten Venezuela. I can’t concur with you though that I have personally benefited from the relationship but I was not counting on that in the first place. Persons, who have benefited are those who have access to monetary gifts with no strings attached and the profits between the landed cost of our fuel and that charged to the public & Domlec. I would feel better if all this revenue had been used for the public benefit in a transparent and accountable way. Venezuela too will benefit from a renewed friendship with the U.S.A. once the current nightmare in that country is replaced with a truly democratic regime. The truth is that they need one another, and Venezuela even more so.