Statement of Senator the Honourable Dennis Moses, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago at the V Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Summit of Heads of Summit and Government
Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic
January 25th, 2017
Your Excellency Danilo Medina, President of the Dominican Republic and Outgoing Pro Tempore President of CELAC
Your Excellency Salvador Sánchez Cerén, President of the Republic of El Salvador and Incoming Pro Tempore President of CELAC
Distinguished Heads of State and Government
Distinguished Ministers of Foreign Affairs
Good afternoon to all,
Trinidad and Tobago is pleased to participate in the Fifth Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States here in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic. I also wish to extend greetings on behalf of Dr. the Honourable Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, who regrettably was unable to join us due to ongoing national commitments.
I wish to commend the Dominican Republic as host of the Fifth Summit and to express gratitude for its tireless efforts and successes as the Pro Tempore President of CELAC, noting that while there were challenges to overcome during its tenure, these have helped to strengthen the structure and operation of CELAC.
This Summit comes at a time when significant changes are afoot in the world. Some countries have begun to look inward and policies of integration are being exchanged for isolationist policies. These developments require us as a region to take notice and determine our priorities based upon shared values of cooperation.
Mr. President, many of our countries are likely to be affected in one way or another by these changes. It is therefore of utmost importance that we draw closer to our neighbours and that the region remains steadfast in its quest to ensure a better world and quality of life for all of our peoples. Accordingly, it is important we continue to support CELAC, this important forum for regional collaboration.
As diverse as the membership of CELAC may be in terms of language and culture, we share the common desire for the security and well-being of our citizenry, as well as the economic and social development of our peoples.
Mr. President, it is therefore the wish of Trinidad and Tobago that the V CELAC Summit will result in the adoption of a Political Declaration, which not only reflects the shared vision and values of our region, but that it will also result in the adoption of an Action Plan which will engender greater cohesion and collaboration within the CELAC, in the face of the currently evolving global paradigm.
To this end, I wish to highlight three issues, which are of special concern to Trinidad and Tobago and the wider CARICOM. Among these is the existential hazard posed by climate change to countries of our region. Acknowledging the acute vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States, Trinidad and Tobago encourages implementation of commitments undertaken under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on mitigation, adaptation and the provision of finance, technology transfer and capacity-building to developing countries, to ensure the highest possible mitigation efforts to minimize the adverse impact of climate change on present and future generations.
Mr. President, also of concern is the threat posed to the stability and security of our region as a result of transnational organized crime, including human trafficking, the illicit trade in drugs and arms, and the attendant increase in violent crimes. National efforts to treat with transnational crime continue to lag behind and it is imperative that our solutions be collective if they are to be effective.
Finally Mr. President, I wish to touch on the dire consequences, which would arise from the termination or restriction of correspondent banking relations with the countries of the Caribbean Community. In this regard, Trinidad and Tobago calls for the support of the CELAC in encouraging international banks to engage collaboratively with affected member states and in rejecting the unsubstantiated labelling of the Caribbean region as a high-risk area for financial services.
I wish to close by thanking the outgoing Pro Tempore Presidency of the Government of the Dominican Republic for its dedication and commitment throughout its tenure. I also wish to express support for the incoming Pro Tempore Presidency of the Government of El Salvador and to extend best wishes as you undertake this important leadership role.
Allow me to thank you very much.
