Conference plots strategy for Atlantic Coast
The delegates have come from as far south as Panama and as far north as Mexico City. What they’re debating is the best way forward for the region’s Atlantic Coast. Patrick Jones reports.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
The two-day conference brings together representatives of community groups of the Meso-American region to devise a development work plan for the region. Sponsored by the Inter-American Development Bank, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, and the Plan Puebla Panama initiative this meeting differs from others in that this time, the multi-lateral, deep pocket groups are on the listening side of the discussion table.
Marcelo Antinori, Forum Organizer
“What is important now is not what is our perception. We want to understand what is the perception of the people that live in the region. And so basically our objectives during these two days is to listen to the representatives of the different groups of the region to tell us what they think is important and only then will we be able to tell them if we think its right or wrong. It’s more than just a consultation, we really want to listen.”
And listening in with Atinori and Belize’s commissioner to Plan Puebla Panama, Salvador Figueroa, will be Harry Brautigam of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. Brautigam says his organisation wants to help, but that to do so with individual groups from the different countries would be counter productive.
Harry Brautigam, Executive President, CABEI
“Finance-wise we are heavily involved in Plan Puebla Panama. For example, we have committed more than seven hundred million dollars for that, infrastructure competitiveness are the key words here we are looking for. If the region is going to be competitive in the future, we need to develop infrastructure. And we need to integrate the region as a whole, and that’s the idea behind this. If you look at the region as a whole within the infrastructure development, we perceive to be a disintegration of the region with the rest. This idea is then how we can start looking at the mechanism for bringing in the area for us to be able to as a region to be able to compete fully handed what I mean. It’s like going into a boxing ring with one hand tied to your back.”
That handicap says Antinori, needs urgent attention since available funding remains constant, but the demand for funding continues to grow.
Marcelo Antinori
“I think the pie can be bigger if the region works as region. Of course that if one of the different groups and present their different interests, it’s very difficult for the international community to understand the importance of these issues. The moment that the region presents their issues as a region, I think this will make the region better understood at international level, and this could make the pie significantly bigger.”
Belize’s Minister of Human Development Marcial Mes echoed that thought.
Marcial Mes, Minister of Human Development
“This conversation I expect will underscore the fact that in spite of the difference in terms of specific cultural manifestations we share a common aspiration for a better life of all of our people. This conversation I expect will confirm what some of us already realise, namely that realisation of that better life will to a great extend depend on our ability to engage in concerted action and our ability to coordinate our efforts, pool our resources, and jointly invest in our common future.”
Patrick Jones, for News 5.
The recommendations made by the conference will be forwarded to the region’s political leaders.
