Caribbean, Central American leaders to hold summit in Belize
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| Published on Saturday, May 12, 2007 |
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GEORGETOWN, May 11, 2Guyana: Climate change and energy are high on the agenda of the Caribbean Community and Central American Integration System (SICA) summit Saturday in Belize, the Guyana-based Caricom said Friday.
"With both regions vulnerable to natural disasters, the leaders will discuss ways of collaboration to mitigate the effects of the impact of natural disasters," Caricom said.
The Caribbean and Central America are extremely vulnerable to tropical storms, flooding, earthquakes and volcanoes.
Caricom and SICA leaders are due to explore areas related to climate change where the two regions can cooperate.
A recent international study found that the Caribbean is increasingly vulnerable to unusual weather phenomenon, depletion of marine species and destruction of coral reefs.
Also on the agenda is an update on negotiations for a Caricom-SICA Free Trade Agreement. One of the major hurdles is inter-regional maritime transportation.
Caricom said "energy issues will also be discussed by the leaders who will issue a declaration at the end of their meeting," but did not give any details.
The energy talks come amid efforts by Brazil, the United States and Guyana to get into large-scale production of ethanol from cane-sugar as well bio-diesel from other farm crops.
Foreign Ministers were due Friday to wrap up a review of the Caricom-SICA Plan of Action which was signed in Belize last February by Caricom Secretary General Edwin Carrington and the SICA counterpart Anibal Quinonez.
The Plan of Action provides the framework for co-operation in a number of areas including human resource development, health, poverty eradication, trade and investment, crime and security and culture.
Security issues including coordinated action against organised crime, human trafficking and the problem of deportation were also due to be discussed by the foreign ministers, Caricom said.
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