7 News Belize

CARICOM, Cari-gone
posted (July 5, 2016)
Last night in Georgetown, Guyana, Belize formally handed over the rotating chairmanship of CARICOM to Dominica. Prime Minister Dean Barrow, who was acting as the interim chairman, did not attend the opening ceremony of 37th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government.

He was represented by Foreign Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington, who handed over chairmanship to Dominica's Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit.

Belize has been acting as chair for the last 6 months, when the American Tier 1 banks began ending their corresponding banking relations with domestic banks in a number of Caribbean Nations.

AND, while that threat to the CARICOM financial system worsend, the big issue right now is how will Britain's exit from the European Union affect the Caribbean.

Prime Minister and new Chair Roosevelt Skerrit discussed it at length in his keynote address last night. Here's a short excerpt of his 21 minute speech:

Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit - Chair. CARICOM
"It is with a degree of conviction that we are on the right track and with optimism for the future that I assume chairmanship of the Caribbean Community CARICOM. but it so happens that I also take the chair of CARICOM at a time when the world is still in a state of shock at Britain's decision to leave the European union after 43 years of membership. At a time when the rest of the world is moving towards regional integration in order to carve out an economic space in the global market place and to balance the might of the emerging super powers Britain has chosen to retreat to insular nationalism. Already the political and, economic and social follow up from this decision to go it alone is causing considerable concern within Britain, Europe and the rest of the world. This conference gives us a wonderful opportunity to seriously consider the effect that Britain's exit from the European Union will have on CARICOM and to demonstrate real leadership by showing the way forward, after all we have a long and deep relationship with United Kingdom and Britain remains one of our most important trading partners. I cannot understand why we have not completed the essential infrastructure to facilitate movement towards an effective free trade area, a meaningful community, single market economy. Why has it proven so difficulty to move people, goods and services cheaply and efficiently around the Caribbean? Why is it cheaper to travel by air from Dominica to New York than it is to travel from Dominica to Guyana? Why are St. Lucian bananas cheaper in London than in Barbados? Why is it cheaper to phone a relative in London from Grenada than it is to phone a friend in St. Vincent?"

The Dominican Prime Minister will hold the position until the end of the year, when another CARICOM Head Of Government will succeed him.

Also representing Belize at the 37th Regular meeting is Foreign Affairs CEO Lawrence Sylvestre, and Daniel Gutierrez, Belize's Ambassador to CARICOM.

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