Friday, February 2, 2007

by Gordon French
Caribbean Net News Guyana Correspondent
Email: gordon@caribbeannetnews.com

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The United Nations (UN) has pledged support for the strengthening of governance in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and has promised assistance to combat transnational crime, according to a statement issued at the conclusion of the fourth general meeting of the UN System and representatives from CARICOM.

The UN has also pledged support towards building the Region’s capacity to implement legal and political instruments related to the eradication of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons as well as to the non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). The two-day meeting concluded last Friday at the CARICOM Secretariat, in Georgetown.

The meeting took note of the ongoing threat to the security of the region posed by narco-trafficking and CARICOM used the occasion to express concern at the recent closure of the UN Office of Drug and Crime in the Region. During the meeting, the UN received requests from CARICOM for support in training and capacity building, ICT development, research, analysis and advisory services to support informed decision- making and policy formulation, as well as public education at national and regional levels.

The meeting also noted with concern the continuing negative impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the region but recorded positive developments in the CARICOM - UN partnership in this area.

Progress through joint efforts to address the full and effective implementation of the SIDS Programme of Action and the Mauritius Strategy for further implementation was acknowledged. The meeting stressed the need to move expeditiously to the practical implementation of the MSI at the regional, sub-regional and national levels.

CARICOM and the UN agreed to jointly pursue the full and effective implementation of the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document on the Review of Progress in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, since this document accurately reflects the thinking of the international community with respect to international cooperation for development on which the follow up for collaboration between CARICOM and the UN should be based.

The contribution of both CARICOM and the UN, through MINUSTAH, in bringing a greater degree of political and social stability to Haiti, and the re-admission of Haiti to the Councils of the Community was welcomed. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to supporting that country in its efforts to achieve sustainable economic development and enhanced social and political stability.

The UN delegation was led by the Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Assistant Secretary General for Economic Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. CARICOM’s delegation was led by Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite, Deputy Secretary-General.

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