| Surinamese President Desi Bouterse is the new chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and he says this year holds great opportunities for strengthening the regional integration movement.Bouterse will host the CARICOM Heads of Government for the Twenty-Third Inter-Sessional Meeting in March. It would be the first CARICOM Meeting for newly elected President Donald Ramotar and the newly-elected Prime Minister of Jamaica Portia Simpson-Miller.President Desi BouterseBouterse starts off his tenure as chairman against a backdrop of instability on the global economic front and he is cognizant of what this could mean for the region “given the relationship between the economic health of the major nations and its effect on us in CARICOM.”He said that a major effort would be expected of member nations of the regional trade and integration bloc to overcome the challenges presented by the uncertainty on the global level.“It also requires that we take a hard look at the way we operate, and accept changes that may be necessary,” Bouterse said in a statement.“We have before us an opportunity to bind ourselves even closer together. For,Marcus Allen USC Jersey, surely, we stand a better chance to confront these challenges as a group united,Kerry Wood Cubs Jersey, than each swimming alone against the tide,” he added.At a retreat in Guyana last May, he said that Heads of Government made a positive start towards solidifying the movement when they identified areas that will strengthen the movement.“The determination to consolidate our CARICOM Single Market and Economy is a key factor in this regard and is also a strategic element in our efforts to confront the external challenges,” he stated.At the Retreat, Heads of Government also determined that the manner in which these priorities would be addressed must ensure that the people of the Community feel the impact and recognize the benefits that come to them from integration.This year, he said Caribbean governments will increase their focus and attention on these areas, and on ways the population can more readily feel the benefits.As Chairman of CARICOM, Bouterse said he will place emphasis on enhancing awareness of the efforts being undertaken by the Secretariat and other institutions to improve the lives of the Region’s citizens.He posited that to accomplish their tasks, regional institutions must operate as efficiently and as effectively as possible,Todd Frazier White Sox Jersey, particularly given the impact that the continuing global crisis has on our Member States.In this regard,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, he said the review of the Secretariat must be completed and the relevant recommendations implemented to improve its management and operation,Cincinnati Reds Jerseys, as it is the principal organ that serves the Community.“This secretariat is just the first in the review process, as all the institutions that serve and are funded by the people of our Community will also be reviewed during the course of the year,” Bouterse stated.As President of Suriname, Bouterse has lead responsibility in CARICOM for Community Development, which includes the areas of Culture, Youth, Sport and Gender. Although the responsibilities for the six months of his chairmanship will be broader,Rusney Castillo Red Sox Jersey, Bouterse said he will naturally focus on these.In this regard, one of the main areas he plans to pay attention to is the involvement of the region’s young people.The Paramaribo Declaration of 2010 laid out ideas and recommendations for greater youth involvement in the affairs of the Community and Bouterse said these must be pursued urgently and diligently, as the participation of the young people in the integration movement is essential to ensure that it is kept alive and dynamic.Looking outward, Bouterse said he will also seek to improve the coordination among the various regional blocs to which CARICOM Member States belong – in particular those in our neighbourhood.“We must aim to strengthen our position in these organizations and groupings, and make the best of the opportunities they present. Through working more closely together, we can improve the standard of living of our citizens.”Bouterse sees 2012 as the Year of Change.“By altering the way we do things, this Community will be an improved one by the end of 2012,” he said. |
