CARICOM Day planned

PLANS are under way for countries in CARICOM to participate in an event to educate persons from different islands on the culture and people of their neighbours.

This is coming from Barbados’ Representative to CARICOM, Robert “Bobby” Morris, who delivered remarks at the press conference to launch the Barbados Youth Leadership Retreat 2012 recently at the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development.

He said that the event, which they have scheduled to take place in 2013 on CARICOM Day which is July 4, would involve the different islands coming to Barbados where they would set up booths to talk about their country. It is an initiative that is aimed at promoting more effective partnerships between the members of CARICOM.

Morris said that some countries have already started planning for the event and he is confident that when the event does take place next year, it would provide an avenue for both organisations and individuals to form pro-fessional and personal relationships with their neighbouring islands. This event and its outcomes are expected to add to the already strong foundational linkages which currently exist, he stated.

“The reality is that almost every CARICOM member state provides a home, or place of work, a place of study, or a place for holidaying and relaxation for members of other Caribbean states. Our families are becoming more mixed as our sons and daughters find their spouses from neighbouring countries.”

The Ambassador said that as a result of this, each island must make an effort to capitalise on these linkages without being led astray by our differences.

“CARICOM is a lived experience and we must not be distracted about the relatively minor areas of disagreements, which are sometimes blown out of proportion. We must not be led astray by the idealists who see the glass as half-empty, but we must be able to assume the optic of the realist who sees the glass as half-full and to acknowledge that there is room for both perspectives.”

Morris said that both he and the Youth Commissioner would be working to ensure that the young people are educated about CARICOM and the development of our most vital resources – human resources, both of which are important for progress.

These linkages are developed through the CSME Unit, which also handles issues like managed migration and the sharing of expertise between the islands.

There is also the Caribbean Development Fund, which ensures that resources are provided to those islands that are in need as they have been negatively impacted by issues related to geography and history, among others.

CARICOM is also important for the region to form partnerships with metropolitan nations, such as the USA, Canada and Europe. These partnerships are developed by professionals at the Office of Trade Negotiations. (PT)