Outgoing Australian High Commissioner to Caricom member states Philip Kentwell has lauded the relationship between his country and the region, noting that it has grown stronger over the years.
Ambassador Kentwell, who is resident in Trinidad and Tobago, will be making farewell visits to Caricom countries in the coming weeks, a press release from the High Commission said.
It noted that while geographically distant, Australia and the nations of the Caribbean have been growing closer in other ways, particularly over the last three years.
“The Australian Government has committed A$60 million over four years to help tackle the challenges facing the Caribbean region. Australia’s long development relationship with its Pacific partners has provided useful experience for Australia in helping others to overcome the vulnerabilities of small island states,” the release quoted the ambassador as saying.
In both regions, adapting to climate change and reducing disaster risk are high priorities. In the Caribbean, Australia is supporting efforts to manage these threats through the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre and the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency, as well as community initiatives to respond to climate change, the release stated.
Australia was also among the first to respond to Haiti’s devastating earthquake, initially contributing A$24 million in humanitarian assistance. It has now provided more than A$26 million.
Education and sporting links are also expanding. With 90 Australia Awards scholarships offered to the region in the last three years, Australia is enabling Caribbean students to make strong contributions to their societies in fields such as engineering, agriculture, health and sports administration. Caribbean diplomats are receiving training through a joint initiative of the Australian National University and the University of the West Indies, the release noted. And the youth of the region are learning life-skills and leadership through the Australia Sports Outreach Programme.
High Commissioner Kentwell said Australia is also helping countries in the region to build economic resilience through the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre and the International Finance Corporation. “Put simply, strong and resilient economies improve living standards,” he was quoted as saying.
Australian-Caribbean cooperation also
continues to grow in the international arena. A formal Caricom-Australia dialogue enables an annual high-level exchange of views on matters of common interest. Australia and Caribbean nations also work together increasingly in the United Nations and through the Commonwealth on issues ranging from food security and disease prevention to the negotiation of a strong and effective Arms Trade Treaty aimed at stopping the illicit arms trade, the release said.
“It is a little known fact, but Australia and Caricom are home to the two largest stretches of coral reefs in the world, and so we both share a strong interest in coral reef preservation and protection,” the release quoted Kentwell as saying. “Drawing on its expertise in coral reef and marine management, Australia is working collaboratively with the Caribbean to preserve these threatened habitats.”
Since November 2009, the High Commissioner said, Australia and Caricom have been working together to reduce poverty, enhance sustainable development and build people to people links.
