Curaçao is now the sixth Affiliate Member of the Caribbean Group (CARICOM). The nation’s Prime Minister stated it brings a singular mix of cultural traditions, financial strengths, and social views that can hopefully strengthen the Group.
On Sunday CARICOM Chairman, Dickon Mitchell of Grenada, and Prime Minister of Curaçao, Gilmar Simon Pisas signed the Settlement accepting Curaçao as an Affiliate Member of CARICOM in the course of the Opening Ceremony of the forty seventh Common Assembly of the Convention of Heads of Authorities in St. George’s Grenada.
In his inaugural remarks following the signing of the Settlement accepting Curaçao into CARICOM, Prime Minister Pisas said:
“We additionally convey the expertise, assets, and the huge worldwide community of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which we will leverage in optimizing our collective strengths and financial connections, and to navigate geo-political complexities to learn all CARICOM Members States and Affiliate Members.”
Describing the event as one other historic occasion in Curaçao’s historical past, the Prime Minister stated becoming a member of CARICOM is a testomony to its “shared imaginative and prescient of a united, affluent, and resilient Caribbean Group.”
Articulating the potential for taking part in Regional Financial Integration, he stated the nation’s strategic location, pure ports, and well-developed bodily {and professional} providers infrastructure, can function a hub for regional commerce.
The Prime Minister stated that by way of investments in connectivity and logistics, Curaçao will help streamline the motion of products and providers throughout the Caribbean, which might redound to larger financial exercise and job creation.
“By working collectively, we will create a extra aggressive and resilient regional financial system,” Prime Minister Pisas said. He added that Curaçao has begun negotiations with Trinidad and Tobago, the Dominican Republic, and imminently with Suriname, demonstrating a agency dedication to regional commerce.
The Prime Minister additionally articulated Curaçao’s willingness to assist renewable power, new types of agriculture, digital know-how and telecommunications, human capital growth, local weather resilience, and sustainable growth. He famous that the nation intends to take part actively in Practical Cooperation by way of CARICOM’s strong community of assist throughout the Area.
Whereas acknowledging its commitments inside the household of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, he stated Curaçao is dedicated to pursuing Regional Integration, as an integral a part of the Caribbean household whose cultural id is linked to the wealthy historic heritage of the Caribbean area.
Pisas was warmly welcomed by the Chairman of CARICOM and the CARICOM Secretary-Normal, Dr. Carla Barnett.
In her remarks, Dr. Barnett stated she appears ahead to Curaçao’s lively engagement as the latest member of the CARICOM household. She added that the Group’s rising affect and stature have led to an rising variety of expressions of curiosity from nations within the hemisphere to take part extra totally in CARICOM.
CARICOM has 15 Member States and 6 Affiliate Members.
