CARICOM seeking to strengthen partnership with US

—voices support for lift of Cuba embargo

CARICOM regional foreign ministers, at the 22nd Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR), reaffirmed the community’s need to strengthen partnerships with traditional partners, and forge relationships with new ones.

The COFCOR convened in St. George’s, Grenada on May 13 and 14, 2019, under the Chairmanship of Peter David, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Labour of Grenada.

There, they discussed the matter of bilateral relations, and they noted the progress made in strengthening relations with several Third States since the last meeting was held, and reaffirmed the community’s relations with traditional partners, while noting the need to develop relations with non-traditional partners. It was stated that the ministers reviewed the region’s relationship with the US, and underscored the need for the community to strategically consider its long-term engagement with the country.

“The COFCOR stressed the need for intensifying contacts with representatives of both Houses of the US Congress.  Ministers also discussed the need for designing a policy to mobilise the CARICOM diaspora in the US in support of the Community’s interest,” it was stated.

Notably, the community also voiced support for the lifting of the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed against Cuba by the US.

“In reviewing CARICOM-Cuba relations and the preparations for the Sixth CARICOM-Cuba Ministerial Meeting to be held in Guyana on 14 June 2019, the Council underscored the importance of the longstanding relationship with Cuba which is characterised by technical cooperation, trade and political relations, and mutual support for each other in multilateral for a,” CARICOM related. With regard to the United Kingdom, the communique stated that with the UK’s impending departure from the European Union, ministers welcomed the progress made to secure future trade relations with the UK, with the signing of the CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement by most Member States.

It was stated that the agreement will ensure continued preferential access to UK markets and safeguard current and future trade flows between the countries of the region and the UK.

  The statement also said that the ministers also noted Colombia’s interest in renewing relations with the community, and agreed to participate in the inaugural CARICOM-Colombia Ministerial Meeting to be held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, on 29 June, 2019.