In about six weeks time, the region will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas which established the Caribbean Community…a time when member states, including Grenada, will look back at many successes and accomplishments over the period of the integration movement.
It’s regarded as a time when the Community has had to grapple with a host of economic, social and environmental issues at the national, regional and global levels.
REPORT:
Yesterday addressing the 51st Meeting of the Community Council of Ministers, CARICOM Secretary General, Dr. Carla Barnett, says the intellectual leadership possessed has gain the community a level of respect inherent in its small size.
She says it has done reasonably well and moving into the next 50 years, it will take an even greater effort to face the challenges that lie ahead.
The greatest of the challenges over the time, Dr. Barnett noted the impact of climate change on member countries, their economies and societies and while they are not the source of climate change, they bear the greatest burden.
The CARICOM Secretary General speaks of intensifying advocacy to convince those who cause climate change to do what is right to both reduce their emissions and improve access of SIDS, including CARICOM countries, to financing so as to address the impact of climate change.
The reminded the meeting that the resilience of the Community is aptly captured in the official theme for the celebration of the 50th Anniversary…”We are, indeed, 50 years strong, and we have a strong foundation to build on” and there’s the call to further strengthen the foundation, to accelerate sustainable growth, and build a safe and prosperous future for the next generation.
