Spain appoints first ambassador to CARICOM
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| Published on Friday, April 20, 2007 |
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GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): Spain and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have fortified their ongoing relationship with the presentation of credentials from Spain’s first accredited Ambassador Representative to the CARICOM Secretariat.
CARICOM’s Secretary-General Dr Edwin Carrington accepted credentials from Jesus Silva at a ceremony at the CARICOM Secretariat.
The CARICOM Secretary-General in his remarks stated that “the new history of CARICOM-Spain relations dates back to the last decade, during which we have experienced an excitingly high level of cooperation.”
The first CARICOM-Spain summit was held in Trinidad and Tobago in July 1999, which culminated with the signing of the “Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the Kingdom of Spain and CARICOM.”
This agreement became the backbone of a productive relationship that has resulted in two more CARICOM-Spain summits- in 2002 and 2006; a fourth is expected to be held in 2008.
The programme of the last committee meeting between the sides has outlined the plans for the next four years which include democratic governance, public participation, institutional development, coverage of social needs, promotion of the economic and business activities, the environment, culture, gender and development.
The Secretary-General also noted that some 20 Spanish firms are due to arrive in Jamaica next month to explore additional investment opportunities in areas such as, energy, construction technology and air transportation.
Ambassador Silva in his statement complimented CARICOM on its efforts at integration, this he said “shows the ambitions of the region to become a modern and respectful actor in the globalised international scene, which both Spain and Europe are eager to see it advance and achieve it goals.”
The Ambassador who has worked in the Caribbean as Spain’s representative to Jamaica, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, St.Kitts and Nevis, The Bahamas and St.Lucia stated that both Spain and Europe have signalled their commitment to help the CARICOM become a more powerful bloc which will enhance political cooperation and make the regional market more attractive to foreign investments.
Spain at the last summit with CARICOM in 2006 expressed its intentions to follow with interest the position of the countries of CARICOM on sensitive issues such as the effects of the reform of the sugar sector, preferential access to Caribbean banana and projects and programmes maintained by the European Union in those countries. | | | | Reads : 170 | | | |
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