OTTAWA, Canada, CMC – Canada and Caribbean Neighborhood (CARICOM) leaders Thursday ended three days of a “very profitable” summit laying the groundwork for a “concrete plan of motion” sooner or later relationship, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has mentioned.
Trudeau, flanked by Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley, and Guyana’s President, Irfaan Ali, instructed an end-of-summit information convention that the first-ever assembly of leaders of the CARICOM grouping and himself held right here, mentioned: “This was an excellent alternative to assemble amongst buddies and companions to speak in regards to the challenges the world is going through.”
He mentioned these challenges embrace local weather change and geo-political instability, like the necessity for a greater circulation of financing, and to speak in regards to the area’s challenges.
“It was additionally a possibility to speak amongst buddies in regards to the values that drive us ahead and the connections between companions on this area. We have now had a really profitable three days of conversations, however greater than that. We’re popping out of this with a concrete plan of motion to proceed to harness the alternatives and the potential of the friendship between Canada and the Caribbean and our mutual curiosity in shifting ahead in the precise method collectively,” Trudeau instructed reporters.
“It was an ideal honor to host the primary occasion in Canada, the Canada CARICOM summit. It’s all the time higher to see one another head to head, particularly when we’ve got many vital points to sort out, like creating good jobs, making life extra reasonably priced…preventing local weather change, and retaining individuals secure”.
Trudeau mentioned he was grateful to all of the CARICOM leaders who attended the summit, saying, “Thanks for being true companions…and thanks for being such robust voices for the area and your hemisphere.”
He mentioned the summit had taken place amid vital turbulence, together with the scenario within the Center East, the continued warfare between Russia and Ukraine, and the deteriorating circumstances in Haiti, a CARICOM member nation.
“Our residents live with devastating realities of local weather disaster, whether or not wildfires in Canada or hurricanes and rising sea ranges throughout the Caribbean. We face provide change points, world inflation, and meals insecurity. In occasions like these, it’s so vital to strengthen {our relationships} with buddies and like-minded companions.
Trudeau mentioned Canada is dedicated to implementing a brand new overseas labor program for agriculture and fish processing below its short-term overseas employee program and increasing duty-free entry below the Commonwealth Caribbean international locations tariff program to textile and attire.
Ali, who was deputizing for the CARICOM chairman and Dominica’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, who left the summit early as a result of impending passage of Tropical Storm Tammy on his homeland, mentioned that CARICOM was very “happy on the end result of the summit.
“We spent a variety of time collectively creating the framework and ecosystem to help funding partnership, particularly with the non-public sector, and discussing points surrounding an enabling coverage surroundings that will help the aspirations of Canada and CARICOM.”
He mentioned the summit additionally mentioned supporting mechanisms Canada may help the area with “in creating an surroundings which might help monetary system reforms, the local weather agenda and COP 28…and the way we will advance these priorities, meals safety, regional transport, and logistics.
“This summit constructed our belief, deepened our friendship, and expanded our relationship, and one of many vital attributes of the summit itself was the involvement of the non-public sector,” mentioned Ali.
Rowley hoped the summit can be an annual affair, saying, “What we’ve got executed right here is to not be sneezed at.
“The Caribbean islands and Canada have a legacy we must always not take flippantly. In troubled occasions like these, it’s crucial that we acknowledge who we’re and likewise agree that we’re stronger collectively.
“CARICOM as a bunch of island nations…we consider we’re stronger collectively, standing and talking as CARICOM. However with Canada, we’re additionally stronger collectively within the worldwide group,” Rowley mentioned, noting that if the international locations need to disregard the legacy of our historical past with Canada and resolve to stroll away, “our diaspora received’t allow us to.”
“We discovered frequent floor as regards to Canada’s power that may be made accessible to us within the area on the problem of regional safety, nationwide security, and safety, offering gear which we discover tough within the area, standing with us and voicing our concern about being disregarded within the worldwide group of financing,” Rowley mentioned, referring to the choice by the European Union to dam two CARICOM international locations as tax havens and non-cooperative tax jurisdictions.
Rowley mentioned Canada additionally had an integral position in serving to the area self-sufficient.
“Within the Caribbean, we’d like extra assets and ambition. We have now been strengthening our economies, which can permit us to make full use of any further assets Canada can present us with.
“These assets will not be solely in {dollars} and cents. Talking within the worldwide market and influencing the dialog and selections that have an effect on us due to arbitrary decision-making and disrespect of our pursuits have an effect on us.
“So if we do have assist in making our case on the applicable for a…then we will profit from a variety of what Canada can say for us and with us as a result of we share these frequent values. And naturally, within the space of precise assets, like in coaching, serving to us maximize our efforts, we will profit tremendously from being collectively,” Rowley mentioned.
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