Georgetown: With the exception of Belize, Grenada and Haiti, the Leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) met earlier today in Suriname at the Royal Torarica Hotel where the 23rd Intercessional Meeting of the Leaders was held and heard another clarion call for change in the region.
The CARICOM Chief, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque addressed the opening ceremony where he charged the CARICOM Leaders to make meaningful contributions to the Regional meeting. In pointing out that the CARICOM movement still has a long way to go in realizing its ideals he thanked predecessors for their various contributions as well as recognized the women of the community as the event coincided with the Observance of International Women’s Day, saying that the community fully endorses the ideals of the occasion.
The theme of the meeting this year is “Healthy Women a Wealthy Region” which serves to also mark the occasion. LaRocque reminded of the deep introspection engaged by all in the Community and said that this is aimed at transforming the way the Region handles its business. He said that this transformation is critical to having the integration aspect of the CARICOM movement felt by all and sundry in the community, “in their daily lives. “This intercessional meeting should be remembered as the initiator of this era of change as Heads of Government report.”
He reminded that the review is but the first in a series of initiatives aimed at improving governance arrangements in the community that will also be reflected across the regional institutions in an effort to rejuvenate the CARICOM Movement. LacRoque also reminded that the change that he preaches of is not isolated to the meeting but rather joins in a sweep of reform that has been engaging the community. “It must take into account the way we conduct and govern our affairs,” the Ambassador said adding that there is need for further prioritization.
In welcoming the review of the work of the CARICOM Secretariat headquartered in Guyana, the CARICOM Chief said that the recommendations by the Heads will be critical to addressing the needs of the Secretariat with a view to realizing the goals of the movement and reminded that all must be prepared to welcome the necessary changes required. “It will not be easy…It will definitely require a new mindset, a new way of doing things,” he reminded even as he noted that a “new culture must be injected into the organization.”
LaRocque warned that given the magnitude of the task, a facilitator is required for the change that he speaks of in an effort to ensure that measures are prioritized as the community seeks to move forward. “The Secretariat must become more strategic in its task,” he said, even as he pointed out that the challenge to the transformation is the “how” aspect of it.
In Caribbean colloquial terms, he said, “the devil is in the details,” while insisting that the change must start from the top.”
Outgoing Chairman of the Community, Dr. Denzil Douglas of St Kitts and Nevis in his remarks to the leaders said that the annals of history will always recall the importance of the meeting in Suriname. He joined his colleagues in congratulating Guyana’s recently elected Head of State Donald Ramotar and also used the occasion to recognize the works of his predecessor Bharrat Jagdeo for his role in the integration process.
Recognizing that CARICOM is at a crossroad or according to Dr. Douglas, “these critical times,” he, in directing his comments to Ambassador La Rocque expressed confidence that the leadership will be provided in the transformation process.
“I have no doubt that you will provide the leadership that is so very critical at this time for the community’s machinery, we are acutely cognizant of the fact that these are indeed trying times.”
He said too that the Region is being called upon to defend itself and to chart a way forward in, “the murkiest of global waters.”
Dr. Douglas also spoke of the fact that the meeting being convened at a critical juncture of the movement adding that there is a need to graduate from the crossroad and reiterated that the “time for action is now…as outgoing chairman I need to underscore the need for optimism.”
Dr. Douglas also warned that there is a need to move beyond the enunciation of priorities and to see the realization “of our shared vision…this requires all hands on deck if the ship of this community is to sail safely through the turbulent waters of today.”
He said that the world into which CARICOM was born is no more, “geopolitical, socio-economic and other global stresses have caused our whole operational landscape to be ever changing.”
Dr. Douglas warned too that the problem solving measures to address the needs of the community is even more complex and as such the community needs to be ever adapting to be, “much more results oriented.”
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