His Excellency Raul Licausi, Vice
Minister for the Caribbean in the Ministry of Popular Power for Foreign Affairs
of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Chairman of the Ministerial Council of
the Association of Caribbean States,
Ambassador Dr June Soomer, Secretary
General of the ACS,
Distinguished
Delegates,
Ladies and
Gentlemen,
Good Morning.
On behalf of the Government of Trinidad
and Tobago, I wish to extend to you a warm welcome to the 20th Inter-sessional
Preparatory Meeting for the 23rd Ordinary Meeting of the Ministerial
Council of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).
Permit me at the outset, Mr. Chairman,
to reiterate, on behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of
Trinidad and Tobago, our heartfelt condolences to and solidarity with the countries
of the Greater Caribbean Region, following the devastation wrought by Hurricanes
Irma, Maria and Nate earlier this year. The disastrous effects of these recent
hurricanes have left most of us shocked and saddened, as we attempt to come to
terms with the devastation that has been wrought upon the Greater Caribbean,
including the significant number of lives lost.
Trinidad and Tobago commiserates with you in this difficult period. We are confident however, that the resilience
of your people will be of immense benefit as you seek to overcome the challenges
presented by this tragedy.
The Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago also wish to reiterate our
deepest sympathy to and solidarity with the Government and people of the United
Mexican States on the catastrophic earthquakes, which struck in September. This disaster resulted in the tragic loss of hundreds
of lives and significant destruction of and damage to property. It is our fervent hope that the spirit of
camaraderie and resilience demonstrated by the Mexican people will remain a
source of strength, as you forge ahead to rebuild and recover from this
disaster. Our wishes and ardent prayers
are with you, those who have been injured and the families who have suffered
the loss of loved ones.
Mr. Chairman,
Secretary General, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen
In returning to the subject of today’s meeting, I take the opportunity
to congratulate Venezuela on its efforts since assuming the Chairmanship of the
Ministerial Council. Such efforts have served
to reinforce Venezuela’s commitment to the strengthening of the ACS, a
commitment ever present from the very inception of the organisation.
Since our last Inter-sessional
Preparatory Meeting, the Secretary General and the staff of the Secretariat
have continued to demonstrate their dedication to the work of the Association. Our Secretary General, Dr Soomer, has embarked
on several new initiatives over the past year that have benefitted the
organisation greatly.
I wish to highlight one such
initiative which was held last evening right here at the Hyatt Regency – the
Inaugural ACS Excellence Lecture. The
Lecture, entitled “Towards an ACS
Standard of Excellence in Coordination, Cooperation and Concerted Action in the
Face of Disasters” by Dr the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of
St Vincent and the Grenadines. This shone the spotlight on the ACS and the
important work being undertaken for the development of the Greater Caribbean Region.
The subject of the
Inaugural Lecture was indeed apposite because we are meeting at a time when
several of our sister Caribbean States
and Territories have commenced the long and arduous process of reconstruction, as
they struggle to emerge from the destruction suffered as a result of the recent
natural disasters. There is no doubt that
we must be prepared to confront these perennial challenges that have been
exacerbated by Climate Change.
Small Island Developing
States (SIDS) and other small States in the Greater Caribbean Region have a
high degree of vulnerability and are affected disproportionately by natural disasters. In this regard, the work of the Special
Committee on Natural Disasters assumes particular importance and provides a
platform for regional cooperation as we seek to grapple with common
threats.
Mr. Chairman,
Secretary General, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen
My delegation wishes
to acknowledge also the work undertaken by the various Committees and we look
forward to receiving the Reports
of the Chairmen of the Special Committees on the progress of their respective
Work Programmes and the Report of the Chairman of the Council of National
Representatives of the Special Fund. We
also anticipate the Report of the Chair of the Working Group Established in
accordance with paragraph 37 of the Declaration of Havana of the 7th
ACS Summit.
The Caribbean Sea
Commission is another critical area of special interest to Trinidad and Tobago.
We
recognize the impressive work being undertaken in the Commission’s flagship
project, “Impact Assessment of Climate Change on the Sandy Shorelines of the
Caribbean: Alternatives for its control and resilience.” A project of this nature reinforces the need
for the Region to combat the negative impact of Climate Change with approaches
characterized by Resilience. Trinidad
and Tobago will continue to actively support this project through our Focal
Point at the Institute of Marine Affairs.
I also seize this
opportunity to underscore the commitment of Trinidad and Tobago to
multilateralism as the most appropriate instrument we can employ to face the
challenges of the Greater Caribbean Region.
Though the external environment, both regionally and globally has
changed, the ACS remains as relevant today as when it was created. In this context, the onus lies on us, the
representatives of Member Countries and Associate Members, to review, update and
build on our past achievements as we chart a course for the improved welfare of
our peoples.
Mr. Chairman of the Ministerial
Council, Secretary General, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen
As
this 20th Inter-sessional Preparatory Meeting for the 23rd
Ordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Council deliberates on the most appropriate
action in support of the achievement of the strategic vision of the ACS, it is
of paramount importance that we be ever mindful of the need for coordination of
our efforts. It is imperative that we
recognize our shared responsibility and acknowledge that the integration which
we seek to achieve in the Greater Caribbean rests squarely on our collective
shoulders. We each have our individual
roles to play in addition to the roles which we play in partnership with one
another, if we wish to fulfil our promises to the people of the Greater
Caribbean.
In closing, I wish
to thank all of you for your participation in this meeting and to state that
your presence here today sends a strong signal of hope for the Greater
Caribbean Region. I wish, therefore, to
extend every good wish for fruitful deliberations.
Thank you very much.
Click to view official statement document- Opening Remarks delivered by Senator the Honourable Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs at the 20th Inter-sessional Preparatory Meeting of the 23rd Ordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).
