Mr.
Chairman, dear colleague David Turk
Deputy Secretary-General,
Secretary-General of CARICOM, Mr. Edwin Carrington,
Deputy Secretary-General of CARICOM,
Under-Secretary-General Jose Antonio Ocampo,
Dear colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is a great pleasure for me to participate in this Third
General Meeting between the United Nations and the Caribbean
Community.
Regional
groupings of countries working together for economic and
political objectives are now a worldwide trend. On many
issues that need to be tackled jointly, regional organizations
are better positioned to promote the interests of countries
as a group, rather than individual national governments
going it alone. In the furtherance of the objectives and
principles of its Charter, the United Nations has been very
encouraging and supportive of such groupings and their activities.
From the vantage point of my Office, with the responsibility
for the most vulnerable countries of the world, such supportive
collaboration have increased value and significance.
CARICOM
and other organizations like the Pacific Islands Forum have
dealt with environmental, economic, social and political
issues in a more coherent and effective manner both within
their respective regions, as well as with other international
groupings. Over the years the capacities of regional groups
have also developed considerably. They have negotiated more
favourable terms of trade, dealt with security matters,
and have been planning collectively for favourable changes
in the economic and political environment.
Among
the several regional measures initiated by CARICOM has been
the scheme to establish a CARICOM Single Market and Economy
(CSME) and the Caribbean Court of Justice. CARICOM is also
part of the negotiating process for the Free Trade Area
of the Americas (FTAA). All these and other initiatives
will undoubtedly have far-reaching economic, social and
political consequences.
In July
2003 I had the pleasure of attending the CARICOM Heads of
Government meeting in Montego Bay where I represented Secretary-General
Kofi Annan and delivered his message. The Secretary-General
recognized the dynamic leadership and service provided by
CARICOM in pursuit of regional peace development. His message
focussed on the specific constraints faced by the CARICOM
members all of whom are Small Island Developing States and
underlined the importance of the ten-year review of the
Barbados Programme of Action for development of these countries.
Regional
groups concerned with small island developing countries
like CARICOM, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Indian Ocean
Commission, as well as others, have been closely involved
in the preparations for the Mauritius International Meeting
for the review of the Barbados Programme and their contributions
have been substantive. I am confident that CARICOM and its
members will continue to play an active role in the on-going
preparatory process as well as at the Mauritius International
Meeting. I would like to express my appreciation for the
detailed discussion that I had with Secretary-General Carrington
on the follow-up of the Barbados Programme in Nassau last
January.
In my
capacity as Secretary-General of the Mauritius International
Meeting, I would like to see a meaningful and practical
outcome at the International Meeting. I believe that a more
active implementation and monitoring system put into place
and not the current rather passive system that prevails.
In this regard, regional organizations like CARICOM, can
have a very useful role. As they know the region well and
know the main actors relevant for implementation, CARICOM
would be able to make a difference in the implementation
and monitoring of the Mauritius outcome.
Finally,
I was happy to hear of the invitation extended to me to
attend the CARICOM Summit in Grenada in July this year and
it would be my pleasure to make every effort to attend.
I
thank you.
*****
