Caribbean Net News

Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Barbados Prime Minister reflects on the region’s fight against HIV/AIDS

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

“… this festive season, I ask [that] you take a little time for quiet reflection on how far we have come in the HIV and AIDS fight and how far we have left to go. I trust that you will recommit yourselves to the common goals of love, charity, compassion, fellowship and that our shared responses will lead to a brighter tomorrow and a better future for all.”

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: These were the words of reflection and appeal by Owen Arthur, Prime Minister of Barbados to the audience at the recent launch in Montego Bay, Jamaica of the publication: Common Goal, Shared Responses: A Case Study of the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS.

The high demonstration of political commitment that characterises the partnership was reflected in the attendance at the launch. Those attending included the Prime Minister of Barbados Owen Arthur and the Prime Minister St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves; Ministers of Health from the Bahamas, Jamaica, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines; other Government officials of CARICOM Member States; Heads and members of the joint UN agencies and journalists.

Speaking of the initiatives of Barbados in the fight against HIV/AIDS and discrimination related to it, Prime Minister Arthur indicated that his Government has recognised the need to pay close attention to promoting human rights and the reduction and eventual elimination of stigma and discrimination.

In his address to the December 13 launch organized jointly by the Secretariats of CARICOM and UNAIDS, at the Half Moon Hotel, he expressed optimism that the Region was on its way to achieving some measure of success in this endeavour: “Strengthened by PANCAP and its philosophy of common goals and shared responses, I do believe we stand on the threshold of a new era of enlightenment and understanding that will bring to the Caribbean a society where stigma and discrimination have been dethroned and replaced by compassion and tangible care for all of those infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS virus.”

Prime Minister Arthur, the Caribbean Community Head of Government with responsibility for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) referred to the social agenda that must be fully met in the implementation of the CSME and pointed out that, “The fight against HIV/AIDS and the work of PANCAP are vital parts of that social agenda.”

Referring specifically to the dimension of the CSME which deals with the free movement of persons, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in his presentation at the launch event spoke of the necessity for a greater Regional response to social and economic challenges, of which he pointed out, HIV/AIDS is a prominent one. Noting that PANCAP is a vital network around which the Caribbean must mobilise resources, the Prime Minister added: “We need much more resources with which to confront the challenge of HIV/AIDS.”

The negative developmental impact of the epidemic on the Caribbean economies and the endorsement of the important role of PANCAP through resource mobilisation by its international partners were two themes central to the presentations at the launch which was chaired by Sir George Alleyne, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General for HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean.

Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Denzil Douglas, who has responsibility for Health and HIV/AIDS in the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet sent a message for the occasion, which was read by the Health Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Douglas Slater. Dr Douglas urged the membership of PANCAP to build on the symbolism of this best practice and ensure that in the next phase of PANCAP’s activities it reaches out much more to the communities of PLWAs to improve care and treatment, reduce stigma and accelerate the prevention in the spread of the disease.

Speaking of the Regional partnership, UNAIDS Executive Director, Dr. Peter Piot declared that, “PANCAP is a lesson in political commitment.” He spoke of the potential for other regions to learn from and build on the experience of PANCAP. Stressing that linkages between Regions are extremely important in addressing common concerns such as gender issues, stigma and discrimination, access to treatment and innovative approaches to prevention for vulnerable populations, Dr. Piot said structures such as PANCAP facilitate these linkages. He added that they also acknowledged the important role of international organisations in stimulating and supporting Regional cooperation and collaboration in this regard.

Referring to the recently held landmark Champions for Change Conference aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS which was sponsored by the United Kingdom and CARICOM/PANCAP, Dr. Piot declared that UNAIDS remains committed to the struggle.

In televised remarks shown by video at the launch, Ms. Yolanda Simon, Chairperson of the Caribbean Regional Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS (CNR+) hoped that the strong ties that bind the CRN+ to PANCAP would continue because, “… at the end of the day improving the quality of life and developing an enabling environment would guarantee that People PLWHA would contribute to and enjoy the benefits of this Region and make it a better place in which our peoples are not decimated by AIDS.”

In officially launching the publication: Common Goals, Shared Responses, Prime Minister Arthur said the document will come to represent the positive influence it is intended to be on the conduct of our efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The publication details the evolution of the Pan Caribbean Partnership, highlights the processes and activities related to the establishment of PANCAP, identifies the achievements of and challenges to the partnership, examines lessons learned and suggests a course for action. The document can be accessed on the websites of UNAIDS and CARICOM.

PANCAP, now officially designated an UNAIDS international best practice, was established by the PANCAP Commitment 2001. This multi-sectoral, multi-level mechanism coordinated by the CARICOM Secretariat brings together a number of organisations in a partnership that is guided by the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework in a collective and accelerated response to the AIDS epidemic in the Caribbean.

In its three and a half years of existence, PANCAP’s achievements include: political mobilisation at the highest levels, global visibility for the Region in putting the issue on the international agenda, significant new international resource mobilisation, and an expanded and strengthened response to AIDS with the inclusion of more than 70 institutions in its membership.

Previous Page Print This Page.