PM Douglas touts successes of CARICOM at Heads of Government Meeting
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PM Douglas and PANCAP Team |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JULY 6TH 2010 (CUOPM) – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has made significant steps forwards.
St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, who celebrates 15 years as a member of the regional integration movement has been outlining some of the significant steps to Caribbean Heads of Government during his sojourn as a leader of the Community.
“It should never be underestimated, the privileges we have given to our Caribbean people and businesses to venture out into our different Caribbean islands under the free movement of people and of capital within the context of the CSME. It should never be underestimated, the framework that we have put in place to ensure that our interests are best served in external trade negotiations through the relevant Prime Ministerial Subcommittee and the CRNM. It should never be underestimated, the many benefits that can be derived from our coordinated approach to regional health issues of a global and epidemic nature within the context of our regional health policy,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He celebrated the region’s initiatives through Caribbean Cooperation in Health, PANCAP and the now Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), at mitigating the effects of HIV/AIDS and chronic non-communicable diseases.
“Lastly we must never underestimate how well we have done at keeping the University of the West Indies as the centre of our regions education strategy. Its expansion into several spheres, but especially the Open Campus establishment and the great numbers of our Caribbean people that it continues to educate must be celebrated,” said Prime Minister Douglas, who has responsibility for health related issues.
“These are significant achievements that we have attained together and it’s these outstanding achievements that give me faith and confidence in our collective commitment. These successes are what give me equal faith that we will rise above the challenges our countries now face as long as we continue to work seriously together,” said Dr. Douglas.
He spoke of the recent moves towards the OECS Economic Union as an sterling example of greater cooperation.
“This great stride made at the sub-regional level of the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States must be seen in the context of the wider integration movement and we should not as the Caribbean Community hesitate to use this model as instruction to us in this integration movement onward and forward,” said Prime Minister Douglas.