News from CARICOM:
Summit to strengthen ties between CARICOM and Mexico
May 17, 2012
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS) -- There is a heightened air of expectation that the current relations that exist between the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping of states and Mexico will be further strengthened by the end of...
Barbados to host second CARICOM-Mexico summit next week
May 16, 2012
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (BGIS) -- Barbados is set to host one of the most important conferences on the 2012 calendar, when the second CARICOM-Mexico summit comes to Bridgetown next Monday. It will be preceded by a meeting of ministers of foreign...
Jamaica to play active role in revitalising CARICOM
May 12, 2012
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) -- Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen said Jamaica will play an active role in revitalising the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). He says the building of the CARICOM Single Market and the pursuit of functional co-operation...
Commentary: Caribbean rum facing threat in the US
May 11, 2012
Rum-producing countries of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) may have to take the US to arbitration at the World Trade Organization (WTO), unless diplomatic efforts settle a looming problem before it concretizes.
Foreign ministers agree on need for enhanced engagement with Caribbean Diaspora
May 10, 2012
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM) -- Caribbean ministers of foreign affairs have undertaken another in-depth discussion on foreign policy coordination, a mechanism whose institutionalization and critical importance have been the subjects of...
Commentary: Thriving is costly
May 9, 2012
It is comforting to view ourselves as misunderstood models of virtue or as underestimated libraries of wisdom. Thriving is not simply an option between a glowing sky and the promise of the day. It begins in the mind. It is the by-product of our moral imagination.
Adapt foreign policy coordination to changing global environment, says Suriname minister
May 5, 2012
PARAMARIBO, Suriname -- The Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) foreign policy coordination in a constantly changing international climate was the common thread running through the addresses at the fifteenth meeting of the Council for...
CARICOM foreign ministers look at ways to strengthen co-ordination
May 4, 2012
PARAMARIBO, Suriname -- The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) will be seeking ways to strengthen co-co-ordination of foreign policy among the Community’s member states.
CARICOM election observers arrive in Bahamas
May 3, 2012
NASSAU, Bahamas -- A 12-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) mission will observe the May 7 general elections in The Bahamas. The team will be drawn from ten member states and the CARICOM Secretariat.
Commentary: The G20 countries, Canada and the Caribbean Community
May 3, 2012
Since the recent meeting between Canada’s Harper and the Caribbean Community in Colombia, various bits and pieces about the pow-wow are now coming to light, which requires further comment and analysis that no doubt might expose the weakness and...
Secretary general tells Diaspora trade not the only measure of success for CARICOM
April 26, 2012
WASHINGTON, USA -- Secretary-general of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Irwin LaRocque, told leaders of the Washington, DC-based Caribbean Diaspora that merchandise trade was not the only measure to judge the success of the...
Business forum to enhance level of trade and investment between CARIFORUM and EU
April 25, 2012
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) in partnership with the ACP Business Climate (BIZClim) and the European Union (EU) will be hosting the second CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum.
OAS assistant secretary general speaks on CARICOM issues in Barbados
April 24, 2012
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- The assistant secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador Albert Ramdin held discussions in Barbados on Friday with a series of officials including the president of the Caribbean Development Bank.
Guyana environment minister calls for one voice at Rio+20 conference
April 24, 2012
GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Guyana’s minister of natural resources and the environment, Robert Persaud, says Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders must join with one voice to call for urgent and meaningful action by the international community.
Commentary: What did CARICOM get from Canada?
April 23, 2012
CARICOM Press Communiqué 98/2012 of April 16, 2012 under the caption “CARICOM lobbies Canada for G20 help” has caught my interest and curiosity, which warrants a Caribbean News Now Article on this critical issue. It is important to state that my curiosity...
Mexico to support CARICOM issues at G20
April 18, 2012
CARTAGENA, Colombia -- The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was assured of the support of Mexico with respect to advocating for small vulnerable economies in the upcoming meeting of the G20, which is being hosted by Mexico in June.
Commentary: Perspectives on the Sixth Summit of the Americas
April 18, 2012
A few months ago, I commented about the possible outcome of the above Summit which was recently held in the Republic of Colombia. It was an interesting Summit, which accommodated 33 delegations; sex crazy United States Secret Service agents...
Caribbean leaders press US president on security
April 17, 2012
CARTAGENA, Colombia -- Caribbean leaders pressed United States President Barack Obama for greater support in securing the region from the traffic in illegal narcotics and small arms. The leaders met in Cartagena, Colombia, following the...
Regional CMOs gather in Cayman Islands
April 17, 2012
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (GIS) -- Cayman Islands Minister of Health, Mark Scotland, on Monday morning declared open the 20th meeting of regional chief medical officers. The two-day Caribbean Community (CARICOM) event...
CARICOM meets with IDB to review cooperation program
April 14, 2012
GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- A team from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat met with a mission from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on Thursday to explore priority areas of cooperation and funding for regional development.
Commentary: Why no air transport talks including REDjet?
April 6, 2012
What prohibits a meeting of representatives of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) governments on the crucial matter of air transport within the region, even as the situation worsens, is beyond comprehension. Three blatant realties are these: Caribbean Airlines Ltd...
Training begins for CARICOM border control officers
April 5, 2012
GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- Immigration officers within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have begun training sessions aimed at improving the treatment of nationals at ports of entry in the region. Ministers of trade of CARICOM were apprised of...
Caribbean Fisheries Forum concludes three-day meeting in Bahamas
April 3, 2012
NASSAU, Bahamas -- The Caribbean Fisheries Forum, technical arm of the CRFM, concluded its tenth sitting in Nassau, Bahamas on 28 March 2012. The three day forum was held under the chairmanship of Michael Braynen, director, Department of...
CARICOM weighs in on treatment of St Vincent ambassador by New York police
April 2, 2012
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CUOPM) -- Chairman of the United Nations CARICOM Group, Delano Bart, who is also St Kitts and Nevis permanent representative to the United Nations, has accused the New York City Police Department of “flagrant...
Commentary: Change facilitation in the CARICOM secretariat
March 31, 2012
Another embarrassment for our leaders at the recent 23rd Inter-Sessional CARICOM summit in Paramaribo. The embarrassing moment came when our yawning and wearied eyes leaders endured new strength and listening skills to learn from a group of...
CARIFORUM and EU sign agreements worth 82.6 million euros
March 30, 2012
GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- The Caribbean Forum of African Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) and the European Commission (EC) on Wednesday signed three financial agreements designed to boost the Caribbean region’s ability to...
Commentary: Do the CARICOM heads understand national security needs?
March 26, 2012
At the 23rd inter-sessional CARICOM meeting, they blabbed, grinned, kissed, shook hands and departed the Republic of Suriname to return to their home base to face the continuing economic woes and growing national security concerns.
EPA provides comprehensive framework to improve flow of investments, says report
March 19, 2012
GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and the Caribbean Forum of African Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) provides a comprehensive framework to improve the flow of...
CARICOM strengthens budding relations with Singapore
March 16, 2012
GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- A burgeoning relationship between the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Singapore was taken to new heights on Wednesday, with the accreditation of its first plenipotentiary representative to CARICOM.
Commentary: CARICOM: Doing the dragon dance?
March 16, 2012
On February 9, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, wrote a robust letter to the secretary-general of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Irwin LaRocque, pointing out the deep malaise in which the integration project is mired.
CARICOM delegation to visit Anguilla
March 15, 2012
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados -- Chief minister of Anguilla, Hubert Hughes, said he is looking forward to a visit from a CARICOM delegation, as agreed at the recently concluded CARICOM inter-sessional meeting in Suriname.
CARICOM heads request reports on stability of financial system
March 14, 2012
PARAMARIBO, Suriname -- Caribbean Community (CARICOM) heads of government have requested central bank governors to provide an early report on the stability of the financial system in the Community, along with appropriate measures to enhance...
Climate change addressed by CARICOM heads
March 14, 2012
PARAMARIBO, Suriname -- Caribbean Community (CARICOM) heads of government have approved an ‘Implementation Plan for the Regional Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change’ which defines the region’s strategic...
No doubt about future of CARICOM, says Montserrat premier
March 14, 2012
BRADES, Montserrat (GIU) -- Premier of Montserrat, Reuben Meade, said there is “no doubt about the future of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)”. His remarks followed his return from the 23rd Inter-Sessional Conference of CARICOM heads.
Crime and security get the attention of CARICOM heads
March 13, 2012
PARAMARIBO, Suriname -- Caribbean leaders have discussed current trends in criminal activity, including the international dimension and new and emerging threats to security in the region and agreed that regional security continued to be high priority.
CARICOM leaders support Guyana and Belize in territorial disputes
March 13, 2012
PARAMARIBO, Suriname -- In the communiqué issued at the 23rd Caribbean Community (CARICOM) inter-sessional in Suriname, regional leaders took note of the continued growing relations between Guyana and Venezuela and expressed the hope...
CARICOM launches consumer protection service
March 13, 2012
GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has launched an online system that allows consumers in 14 member states to alert authorities on dangerous products that they detect in the market.
CARICOM to commence secretariat reforms immediately
March 12, 2012
GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- CARICOM heads of government at their 23rd inter-sessional meeting, which ended in Suriname on Friday, have agreed to “move immediately” to implement major recommendations that would see the restructuring of the...
CARICOM to take over financing of its office in Haiti
March 12, 2012
PARAMARIBO, Suriname -- The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has decided to take over financing of the operations of the regional bloc’s representative and office in Haiti. The CARICOM heads of government, during their just concluded...
CARICOM to mediate issues in West Indies cricket
March 12, 2012
GEORGETOWN, Guyana -- Yet another attempt is being made by CARICOM heads of government to help defuse mounting tensions among key actors involved in and relating to West Indies cricket. At the 23rd inter-sessional meeting, which ended in...
