Day One of the CARICOM Inter-Sessional on San Pedro
CARICOM Heads of Government are gathering in person for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The thirty-third Inter-Sessional is being held in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye. A number of issues relating to the Caribbean community are on the agenda for the two-day event. But, as is standard practice for such international events, the working sessions are closed door. This means no press, international or local, are allowed in. However, before these began, News Five’s Paul Lopez was following the opening ceremonies this morning. Here is his report of that event.
Paul Lopez
Paul Lopez, Stand Up
Meetings between CARICOM’s Heads of Government officially began today with an opening session on San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye. Representatives from CARICOM member states converged inside the West Room at Grand Caribe Resort. Prime Minister John Briceño and CARICOM Secretary General, Carla Barnett addressed the opening session.
John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“A warm welcome to Belize. I am happy to welcome you all to San Pedro Ambergris Caye, better known as La Isla Bonita. San Pedro is an island that attracts many local and foreign tourists for leisure, which unfortunately many of us will not get to fully enjoy this week.”
The next two days will be filled with meetings and discussion between Heads of Government in this room and those attending virtually. Topics like the unrest in Haiti and the effects of Climate Change on the Caribbean are at the top of the agenda.
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Beaches here are eroding because of rising sea levels. Belize’s Barrier Reef, a World Heritage Site is struggling due to coral bleaching. A growing population is testing the limits of the island’s capacity. Most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic dealt a devastating blow to San Pedro’s lucrative tourism industry.”
Acting President of Haiti, Ariel Henry, is present at this week’s high level meeting. The humanitarian and leadership crisis is also one of the issues being discussed by Heads of Government. Also a priority on the agenda is the Caribbean’s COVID-19 plan of recovery.
Dr. Carla Barnett
Dr. Carla Barnett, Secretary General, CARICOM
“Significant obstacles still lay in our path. Much of our citizens remain unvaccinated. Too many of our children are still out of school. Too many of our businesses are still floundering with the result and effect of unemployment. However, one thing we have learnt over the forty plus years of our existence is that we are a resilient community, bound together particular in times of adversity. Such is this time.”
Most Caribbean countries function on a service driven economy, particularly in the tourism industry. Marketing the Caribbean as a single product could boost the region’s recovery efforts says Dr. Barnett. Additionally, CARICOM leaders have agreed to reduce extra-regional agro-food imports by twenty five percent by 2025.
Dr. Carla Barnett, Secretary General, CARICOM
“Chair, heads of government, distinguished delegates, as we look forward to the significant milestone in 2023 of fifty years of CARICOM, we can celebrate our achievements across the four pillars of our integration movement. What we must also do is look forward to those achievements as the foundation for building a resilient Caribbean community, based on rule of law, participatory governance, social, economic and environmental resilient. In short, a place where our people live in a safe, prosperous, and viable society.”
Reporting for News Five I am, Paul Lopez.
