CHARLOTTE AMALIE, CMC—The U.S. Virgin Islands is shifting in the direction of nearer collaboration with its Caribbean neighbors after making strides to provoke a practical cooperation settlement with the Caribbean Neighborhood (CARICOM).
This initiative comes on the heels of the Territory’s current return to the 25-member Caribbean Tourism Group.
In accordance with Teri Helenese, the Director of State-Federal Relations and Washington Consultant for the Authorities of the U.S. Virgin Islands, who spearheaded the CARICOM relationship on behalf of Governor Albert Bryan Jr., Affiliate Membership with the intergovernmental group was a most popular choice.
Nevertheless, given the USVI’s standing as a U.S. territory, she acknowledged the complexities concerned, necessitating particular approvals from The White Home.
Helenese sees the practical cooperation mannequin as a stepping stone to Affiliate Membership and a testomony to altering political climates.
Affiliate members Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Turks and Caicos, and all British Abroad Territories just lately signaled their curiosity in shifting from affiliate membership to full membership throughout the regional group.
Chatting with the Caribbean Media Company (CMC), Helenese underscored the essence of practical cooperation, describing it as a conduit for the U.S. Virgin Islands to forge significant connections with CARICOM states.
She commented, “Purposeful cooperation encompasses launching particular tasks and initiatives to advertise mutual advantages, deal with shared challenges, and obtain frequent objectives throughout the Caribbean.”
Emphasizing the significance of regional dialogue and collaboration, Helenese, a local of St. Croix, identified that the CARICOM relationship would span numerous areas of mutual curiosity. The USVI is keenly fascinated by fostering a “blue financial system,” investing in very important sectors like agriculture, tourism, and know-how, enhancing intra-regional commerce, combating local weather change, and creating regional employment alternatives. Different focal factors are catastrophe restoration and tackling crime, poverty, and rising public well being challenges.
The USVI is presently experiencing a labor scarcity amidst a rising companies sector.
In accordance with Helenese, this space will be squarely addressed inside practical cooperation, as it may be tied to Catastrophe Restoration and the Visa Waiver Program, which is able to facilitate the employment of Caribbean nationals.
The USVI continues to face out for its tourism restoration. In accordance with the most recent U.N. Tourism (previously UNWTO) Barometer, the Territory ranked fourth within the Caribbean for worldwide tourism arrivals from January to December 2023, registering a 23 p.c enhance in comparison with 2019. Main international efficiency, Turks and Caicos skilled a exceptional 127 p.c enhance in tourism arrivals.
Sharing second place within the Caribbean, Curaçao and the Dominican Republic each loved a 24 p.c uptick in customer numbers.
Associated
