Moontown

Friday, June 18th, 2010 at 1:40 pm

“Many may not remember that it was in Montego Bay in 1947, that a number of prominent figures of the then British Caribbean colonies gathered to discuss closer association, laying the groundwork for regional togetherness and bringing us to where we are today - a single market aiming to become a single economy,” Carrington said.

Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding

He was speaking at a media clinic held Tuesday by the CARICOM Secretariat at the University of the West Indies’ Distant Education Centre at Mona ahead of the Thirty First Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which is scheduled for Montego Bay, July 4-7.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, is set to take over the chairmanship of CARICOM at that time, and will preside over the meeting at the Rose Hall Resort and Spa.

Haiti, climate change, the global economic recession and regional trade are among the topics likely to dominate the discussions.

Carrington said the meeting comes against the background of the struggle to recover from the impact of the global economic and financial crisis, from which CARICOM has not been immune. He also noted that the year began on a “catastrophic note” with the earthquake in Haiti, and that it was important that the region play its part in the rebuilding process.

He said it was also important that CARICOM Heads use the meeting to prepare for the upcoming meeting on Climate Change in Mexico next November.

Summing up the challenges, opportunities and current developments in CARICOM, Dr. Carrington, said it was important to put all these matters in perspective as CARICOM embarks on the second decade of the new Millennium.

“It is timely, therefore, that as a community we look at where we are in this contemporary world, and seek means to confront the challenges and seize the opportunities to guide us towards a viable, prosperous and secure Community for all, especially our Youth,” he stated. (Caribnet)

These sentiments were expressed on Wednesday at the Caribbean Regional Disaster Management Symposium, currently underway in Antigua, by Dr Vincent Little, Coordinator of the Caribbean Technical Agenda of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). He was at the time speaking on the current situation and outlook for agricultural risk management in the Caribbean.

“Hazards do not necessarily become disasters, it is the combination of hazards and the level of vulnerability that intensify the impacts of disasters,” he said, adding that the Region’s vulnerability to natural disasters was a development deficit.

Dr Little stated that the development of appropriate mechanisms to reduce the Region’s vulnerability to disasters was crucial as the Region was characterised by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Low Lying Coastal States (LLCS). Leaving no room for comfort, he said, was the fact that 70 per cent of all economic activities took place within a two-mile radius of the coastline, and 60 per cent of the population resided in the coastal zone.

Given these realities, Dr Little stressed the need for an institutional framework to build resilience in the agriculture sector. Past experiences of the impact of disasters on the sector- the US$ 54.4 million in losses to flooding in Guyana in 2005 and the US$ 36.6 million losses in Grenada to Ivan in 2004- should inspire action, he stated.

“The Region cannot continue to rely on costly extra-regional development assistance for reconstruction after a major catastrophe,” Dr Little stated, adding that this “reactive stance” was costly.

He said that the Symposium, which was facilitating an exchange of ideas among key stakeholders on disaster risk management in agriculture, had presented a “defining moment” in ascertaining the role of the sector as a “fundamental mean of alleviating poverty and as an engine of growth.”

Currently, disaster risk management was starved of adequate resources and sometimes it was used as a political tool, Dr Little said. He suggested that this could be addressed through institutional framework of adequate and structured risk management measures at the regional, national and community levels.

The ICCA official said that such a framework should include the establishment of an Office of Chief Agricultural Risk Officer in Caribbean countries; training and public education; and enhanced collaboration among key stakeholders including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF); and the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations.

In developing the Region’s capacity for agriculture disaster preparedness, he posited, it was necessary to implement response and mitigation strategies; design and implement of risk transfer measures; and provide agricultural risk financing with greater inputs by governments.

Another critical component Dr Little posited was the availability of hazard information, and for disaster risk measures to be factored into the planning process for agricultural development. In this context, he said that closer collaboration with the Caribbean Institute for Hydrology and Meteorology (CIHM) would be useful in drought and flood analysis and monitoring and for the development of early warning systems.

Dr Little noted also that the issue of praedial larcency linked to the deficient and uncoordinated risk management measures in the agriculture sector should not be overlooked. In this regard, he called for a review of the state of praedial larceny in the Region; greater public awareness on the issue; and institutionalised farm record keeping. (Jamaica Gleaner)

Edwin Carrington, CARICOM Secretary General

At a media clinic anchored in Kingston, Jamaica, to provide in-depth information on the subjects that would be addressed at the Summit, the Secretary-General pointed out that Jamaica’s contribution to the integration movement had always been pivotal.

He pointed out that Montego Bay could be “truly said to be the cradle of modern Caribbean integration movement.”

“Many may not remember that it was in Montego Bay in 1947 that a number of prominent figures of the then British Caribbean colonies gathered to discuss closer association laying the ground work for regional togetherness and bringing us to where we are today - a Single Market aiming to become a Single Economy, a process which, however, is proving to be more difficult than was anticipated,” he recalled.

This time around, more than 165 delegates from the Region are expected in Montego Bay for the Summit that will be held from 4-7 July.

Ambassador Elinor Sherlock, Chief of State Protocol, Government of Jamaica, told representatives of the media that all arrangements, including security, accreditation and transportation, had been put in place for the Conference. The opening ceremony will be held at the Half Moon Hotel on Sunday 4 July, while the Conference venue will be the Rose Hall Resort and Spa, A Hilton Resort.

About 165 delegates from the Region, as well as guests are expected in Montego Bay for the Meeting.

“Jamaica stands ready and very happy to have been selected to host the upcoming regular Meeting of the Heads of Government,” Ambassador Sherlock said. (Caribnet)

Clinton said US officials will deliver the message on behalf of Alan Gross, 60, when they meet with their Cuban counterparts on Friday for the third round of immigration talks since President Barack Obama took office.

“We are deeply concerned about his welfare and poor health, and we have used every available channel to push for his release. As I told the family today, we will continue to do so,” she said in a statement after meeting the family.

During the US-Cuban meeting on migration issues on Friday, “we will underscore that the continued detention of Alan Gross is harming US-Cuba relations,” the chief US diplomat said.

“The United States would view favorably the release of Alan Gross so that he can return to his family,” she added.

US officials say that Gross worked for a non-government organization contracted by the State Department to supply computer and communications material to civil society groups on the island.

Cuba believes Gross, who has been detained for six months, is a spy.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said Wednesday that Gross “is being held for violating Cuban laws and committing grave offenses in our country at the service of the subversive policy of the government of the United States against Cuba.”

Gross “is currently under investigation, he has a guaranteed defense, has received permanent consular assistance and has had communication with his relatives,” Rodriguez said.

Cuba however has not said if it has pressed formal charges against Gross.

US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said that as of June 2 US officials have been granted access to Gross five times.

The United States and Cuba have not had formal diplomatic ties since 1961, though Washington is represented by a US interest section in Havana. (Caribnet)

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — A mad rush for seats is expected at Friday’s historic opening of the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament and, as a result, the Clerk of the House and other officials had to limit allocation in order to accommodate a wide cross section of the community that wants to see the Republic’s first female prime minister and members of her People’s Partnership coalition administer the oaths and take their seats in the Chamber.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar. AFP PHOTO

Reports from Port of Spain indicate that leading officials from Barbados and St Kitts-Nevis are expected to attend the Tenth Republican Parliament.

The overseas groups comprise five officials who will be guests of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and are colleagues of hers.

Leader of Government Business, Dr Roodlal Moonilal, said that a Member of Parliament is only allowed one guest — a spouse or someone he or she nominates. He added, “There has been an overwhelming interest in this Parliament for obvious reasons and we have a lot of requests from citizens of Trinidad and Tobago as well as from several Caribbean territories to attend, but this all depends on the availability of space… We’re working with the Parliament to ensure arrangements are in place for an elegant, successful launch.”

The Parliament Chamber can only accommodate 500 persons. Officials said the Parliament was catering for an estimated 400-plus invitees for the opening. Of this number, about 50 comprise guests of parliamentarians. Invitees include parliamentarians and their guests, members of the diplomatic and judicial corps and about 75 media personnel, according to estimates.

The Trinidad Guardian reported that the programme is expected to last for three hours, followed by a reception in the Red House rotunda. The length of the event will be due mainly to the fact that 42 members, including House Speaker designate Wade Mark, will be taking the oath of office in the House of Representatives, while 31 senators will be sworn in for the Upper House. Both Houses will meet in separate chambers of the Red House then convene in the House Chamber for an address by President George Maxwell.

There was a rumour that former prime minister, Patrick Manning, who resigned as leader of the PNM, but remained a lawmaker, will not attend the Opening Session, but the latest report from his constituency states that the former prime minister will be present to see his successor, Keith Rowley, assume the office of Leader of the Opposition.

Persad-Bissessar’s People’s Coalition defeated Patrick Manning’s People’s National Movement (PNM) in the May 24 elections and she became the country’s sixth prime minister, and the first female head of government. The first prime minister of the twin island republic was Dr Eric Williams, who is considered the father of the nation, having led the country to independence in August 1962. He was also the first Chief Minister and Premier.

The PNM administration has governed the oil rich country since the late 1950s, save and except a five year term under the Basdeo Panday regime, and now the 58-year-old female lawyer who served as attorney general has taken over leadership in a male dominated Parliament and it is certain that not only Trinidadians, but the entire region will be looking at her performance at least for the first year or two.

Her administration will be closely monitored not only because of her gender, but because she is heading a coalition government, However, it should be pointed out that the party which she heads can stand alone, because it controls 21 of the 42 seats in the House.

The new Prime Minister is the fourth female Head of Government in the region. She follows Eugenie Charles of Dominica, Janet Jagan of Guyana, and Portia Simpson of Jamaica, and is now one of six female prime ministers in the world. The others are from Bangladesh, Germany, Iceland, The Netherland Antilles, and Adland Islands.

The first female prime minister was Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Ceylon/Sri Lanka, but the three most famous female leaders were Indira Gandhi of India, Margaret Thatcher of the United Kingdom and Golda Meir of Israel. (Caribnet)