…Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne is today in Guyana for the Second CARICOM-India Summit with the Prime Minister of the Republic of India the Hon. Shri Narendra Modi.
Arriving on Guyana, Prime Minister Browne said that he and his CARICOM colleagues look forward to engaging Prime Minister Modi on a wide range of issues to include the strengthening of economic and commercial relations between the Caribbean Community and India; Energy and Infrastructure, Agriculture and Food Security and Health and Pharmaceuticals.
He also pointed out that discussions will be held with the Indian leader on technology and innovation, human resources and capacity building and a number of global and regional issues to include the situation in Haiti, Climate Change, Reform of International Financial Institutions and United Nations Matters. The grouping will also work at improving people-to-people contacts and the strengthening of cultural linkages.
In addition to the CARICOM-India Summit, Heads will hold the Twenty-First Meeting of the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on Cricket on November 21 and the Second Regional Symposium on Crime and Violence as a Public Health Issue on November 22-23.
Prime Minister Browne said that the meetings come at a time when the region and the world are grappling with a number of major issues, particularly the multifaceted and protracted crisis in Haiti, the rising threat over the links between migration and the spread of international terrorism and organized crime, the post COVID-19 economic recovery, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Hamas war among others.
He pointed out that as Heads prepare to engage Prime Minister Modi of India, Canada and India are at loggerheads diplomatically. He stated that these two countries are significant partners of CARICOM and therefore efforts must be made to ensure amicable solutions to their concerns.
Prime Minister Browne noted that the current fragility of small and vulnerable states of the Caribbean Community is further exacerbated by the withdrawal of correspondent banking relations, and the current use of Gross Domestic Product as the criterion for access to concessional financing. He said that India’s relations with CARICOM should be encouraged as a strategic and important partner in order for that country to continue advocating on behalf of the region.
Prime Minister Browne said that the Summit with India could not have come at a more appropriate time to enable leaders to engage in frank and meaningful discussions that are targeted to benefit the peoples of CARICOM and India.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) figures, India continues to maintain its position as the fastest-growing major economy among emerging markets and developing countries, with its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) amounting to $3.41 trillion in 2024.
As CARICOM seeks support for its development priorities through partnerships with development partners, the Region’s cooperation with a burgeoning global actor like India has the potential to be very supportive and should be leveraged. Furthermore, India’s expertise in key areas for the Community such as agriculture and food and nutrition security, energy, health, human resource development, and information and communication technology is well known.
Prime Minister Browne who is accompanied by Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to CARICOM Dr. Clarence Henry and Senior Foreign Service Officer, Kurt Williams, said that the Meeting of the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on Cricket will consider key issues and recommendations from the CARICOM Regional Cricket Conference held in Trinidad and Tobago in April of this year, hear a presentation from Sir Clive Lloyd and Deryck Murray on the way forward for West Indies Cricket and review a proposal by CAGE International in respect of funding for West Indies Cricket.
The country’s leader said that Heads will also focus their attention on the vexing issue of crime and violence in the Community outlining that this issue present a serious threat to the health of the people of the region. Strong and decisive action must be taken now he stated.
Prime Minister Browne returns from Guyana on the weekend.
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