Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, the Hon. Allen Chastanet on Monday called attention to the need for deepened engagement among Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government, to find solutions to challenges and to further strengthen the regional movement.
Delivering his inaugural address at the opening of the 37th Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government, at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown, Guyana on 4 July 2016, the newest member of the Conference said, with the blessing of the people of Saint Lucia, he, like all previous Prime Ministers of his country, reaffirm its commitment to an effective and efficient Caribbean Community.
“I believe that we do not take enough time to meet with each other outside of Conferences, we need to listen more and bond with each other, and maybe then, we will be able to find win-win solutions that will benefit us all as a Region.”
In underscoring the importance of CARICOM to the national development, Chastanet said the recent mandate given to his government by the people of Saint Lucia was based on a focused and ambitious manifesto to alleviate poverty, rebuild communities, reduce tax burden, youth empowerment and development, rebuild productive sectors and generate revenue for social services.
“Such a heavy mandate from a Member State means that we will have to collectively find immediate solutions that are cost effective. This Community has made a commitment to the people of the Region, and they must feel the tangible benefits of that,” the Saint Lucian Prime Minister stated, adding, “Our excuse that progress is hampered by consensus is no longer convincing or acceptable.”
Noting that the recent referendum which set Brexit in motion has put the survival of integration movements into focus, he stated that CARICOM’s decision must give effect to the goal of a better life for all.
In this vein, he suggested that CARICOM Councils and work teams should be given the legitimacy to become “more engaged and committed to implementation” of decisions.
“We have an excellent human resource in the Region, let them help us deliver the promise of a better life. Good governance must be at the heart of the Reform Process. People must be at the heart of that process,” the Saint Lucian Prime Minister stated.
“Saint Lucia has always been a member of the Community because it believes in the dream of one Caribbean facing the bold challenges, united in a dream for a better Region. These bold challenges are beating down at the survival of Small Island Developing States. We need this Community to be a buffer, to focus on the things that we do well … We need this community to create efficiencies that will reduce cost and improve the ability the deliver,” he added.
Emphasising the achievements and the impressive international standing of CARICOM, he noted the Region’s deep involvement in the development of sustainable development goals for HIV-AIDS, Non-Communicable Diseases. He also noted the CARICOM nationals who currently occupy the helm at: The Commonwealth; African, Caribbean, Pacific Group of States (ACP), Association of Caribbean States (ACS), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), CARICOM and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OCES). This standing in the international arena, he suggested, should be used for strategic engagements for the benefit of the Community.
Mr. Chastanet also emphasized the critical importance of the tourism industry to the sustainable development of the Region, noting that efforts should be directed at developing “a world class industry that attracts more than one and a half of percent of global tourism.”
On the issue of correspondent banking, which is engaging the attention of CARICOM Heads of Government at their meeting in Georgetown, Guyana, Prime Minister Chastanet said that the Community must put together a “more effective lobby approach,” building on the successful campaign it had with the United Kingdom on the issue of Advance Passenger Duty (APD).
