CARICOM leaders conclude summit

CARICOM leaders meeting in Grenada this week have supported the establishment of a technical task force that will work to develop and implement a plan of action for the region’s banana industry. That, in addition to Haiti, the Caribbean Court of Justice and the Caribbean Single Market and Economy, are among the conclusions reached at the twenty-fifth CARICOM?s Summit. While reiterating the importance of the banana industry to the social and economic stability of the producing countries in the region, leaders also recognized the importance of increasing the competitiveness of the industry. And they agreed that the European Union must be pushed to ensure the continuation of an adequately preferential regime so as to allow the continued sale of bananas on a viable and sustained basis. Meanwhile, on the Guyana/Venezuela and the Belize/Guatemala border disputes, leaders reaffirmed their support for both CARICOM countries in the maintenance of their sovereignty and territorial integrity. Caribbean leaders also laid out clear conditions for returning to normal relations with the government of Haiti. Speaking at the end of the annual meeting, Grenadian Prime Minister Keith Mitchell said Haiti’s readmission to the regional grouping was dependent on five major elements. These are that the political process should be inclusive, involving all political parties; the commitment of the Haitian authorities in the pursuit of all known criminals; no persecution or arbitrary treatment of political opponents; assurances that the appropriate election machinery is in place and that elections will be free, fair and transparent; and that elections will take place in an acceptable time frame and under the supervision of the international community including CARICOM. On Tuesday, the leaders agreed to send a delegation of foreign ministers to meet Haiti’s interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue, but they stopped short of officially recognizing his government until their conditions are met.