SENATOR DELANO Franklyn, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, says "It is imperative that the ACS create its own niche and be included among those steering the (international trade) agenda and shaping the process in order to fulfil both national and regional aspirations."
Minister Franklyn, who is chairman of the Ministerial Council of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), yesterday addressed the opening session of a two-day Inter-sessional Preparatory Meeting of the ACS in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The ACS is a 34-member politico-economic grouping of all the countries washed by the Caribbean Sea.
NEGATIVE ASPECTS
"Reversing the negative aspects of globalisation and liberalisation require not only bold and innovative initiatives but also demands bringing into sharp focus those issues which must form part of the Caribbean's integrated strategy for security and human development," he said.
Minister Franklyn noted that the twin effects of globalisation and liberalisation had brought about far-reaching transformation that affected every facet of our lives. Citing the UNDP Human Development Report 1999, he said while there were enormous benefits to be derived, including greater inter-connectivity among peoples as well as growing interdependence and interaction at the economic and political and social levels, the current process of globalisation had generated imbalanced outcomes.
Pointing out that many of our countries in the greater Caribbean reflected this reality as outlined by the report, even in the so-called developed countries, the Chairman of the ACS Ministerial Council highlighted four areas, which must remain current on the ACS agenda. These areas poverty, trade, crime and security and HIV/AIDS spoke to the long-term security of our people in all its dimensions, he said.
RECOMMIT
"As we recognise the 10th anniversary of the ACS, let us recommit to taking control of our destiny and strengthen our regional and sub-regional linkages to tackle the problems of human security. The unique character of the ACS as a regional institution and its potential as a zone of co-operation for the Caribbean, remains a strategic goal for the organisation and one on which we should capitalise to pursue our common as well as distinctive interests," Minister Franklyn implored.
"Let us use the opportunity of this Inter-sessional Preparatory Meeting to advance our agenda. Let us use the opportunity to bring greater unity among the countries of the region as we work towards our goals. The issues with which we are faced are numerous and complex but we are forced to find solutions not just to describe the problems."
