Continuation from THE VOICE Weekend Edition of 5 March, 2022
HAITI
Heads of Government received a presentation on the situation in Haiti from interim Prime Minister the Honourable Ariel Henry. The Prime Minister underlined that democracy is in decline, institutions are dysfunctional and collapsing. He spoke of the need to restore democracy and the constitutional framework through elections, to address insecurity, and to lay the foundation for future development.
Heads of Government expressed concern over the protracted political impasse, the ongoing humanitarian crisis and mounting insecurity, and the repercussions for the Region of escalating instability.
Heads of Government requested clear direction from the Government of Haiti with regard to the assistance required and, in this regard, agreed to the establishment of a CARICOM Team to interface with its Haitian counterparts and with the international community.
Heads of Government welcomed the suggestion from the Prime Minister of Haiti that the Community could assist in facilitating dialogue, addressing insecurity, building democracy, staging the elections, training the police, and assisting the investigation into the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.
Heads of Government stressed the importance of ensuring good governance and respect for the rule of law and human rights as set out in the CARICOM Charter of Civil Society and underlined the importance of including civil society in the process of dialogue.
Heads of Government commended Guyana for its commitment to provide rice to Haiti in view of the ongoing humanitarian crisis
COP26 – FOLLOW-UP
Heads of Government expressed concern that the overall COP26 package did not adequately address the pressing and urgent needs of Small Island and low-lying coastal Developing States (SIDS), in confronting the accelerating impacts of climate change and in meeting the requirements for climate resilience and adaptation.
They reiterated their urgent call for a systematic global response to provide SIDS with adequate and predictable financial support to address loss and damage. They further noted that the decisions were largely focused on process, so were unlikely to go far enough to keep 1.5 C alive.
Heads of Government stressed the need for the financing of adaptation to be grant funds or not to be included in the debt profile of SIDS. They reiterated their support for the use of a Climate Vulnerability Index as the determining factor for access to concessional financing instead of GDP per capita.
Heads of Government agreed to convene a special meeting on Access to Climate Finance and for a team to work on preparations for this special meeting.
Heads of Government also agreed to support Antigua and Barbuda as Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States for the convening of a UNGA Special Session on the dire findings and projections of the latest International Panel on Climate Change report.
Heads of Government agreed to remain fully engaged in the Global Climate Change Agenda and mandated the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) – Environment to convene no later than June 2022, to further review progress on the achievement of the Region’s goals and priorities in relation to Global Climate Action and its related multilateral processes and to report to the next meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government.
Heads of Government called on the CARICOM Secretariat and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) to follow up on the recommended Next Steps of the COP 26 assessment matrix , to monitor the Roadmap to COP 27 and to update the COTED as necessary.
Heads of Government agreed that the Community should pursue financial support from donors to assist the CCCCC to facilitate Regional consultations and coordination regarding the global goal on adaptation, the new quantified goal on climate finance, and the Glasgow Dialogue on Loss and Damage.
They mandated the CCCCC to continue to explore options to enhance support to Member States in their efforts to access funding for further elaboration and implementation of climate adaptation plans, long-term strategies, capacity building for transparency, and other identified priorities.
Heads of Government indicated their support for Vanuatu in its pursuit of an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice on the rights of present and future generations to be protected from Climate Change.
BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS/SELF-GOVERNANCE
Heads of Government expressed deep concern about the lack of transparency and the manner in which the UK-backed Commission of Inquiry into the British Virgin Islands was called and is operating without having obtained all the legally required approvals.
Heads of Government reiterated their call for the constitutional position of the duly elected Government to be respected and for self-governance to be upheld and not impeded.
Heads of Government called for the implementation of the UN resolution on the question of the British Virgin Islands adopted by the 76th UN General Assembly on 9 December 2021, which calls for self-governance and self-determination in the Virgin Islands to be respected.
Heads of Government agreed to adopt a unified position at the relevant UN decolonization fora in support of the self-determination of the British Virgin Islands.
BORDER ISSUES (Caucus)
Belize-Guatemala Relations
Heads of Government received an update on the status of Belize and Guatemala relations, including Guatemala’s Territorial, Insular and Maritime Claim (Guatemala/Belize) at the International Court of Justice. They noted that Belize will submit its Counter Memorial by June 2022.
Heads reiterated the importance of Belize, Guatemala and the OAS continuing to fully implement the existing Confidence Building Measures. They also reiterated their call for both countries and the OAS to finally fulfil their commitment to design a mechanism of co-operation for the Sarstoon River.
They expressed appreciation for the role of the OAS in accompanying the process and called on the international community to increase support for the OAS Office in the Adjacency Zone.
Heads of Government reaffirmed their steadfast support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of Belize.
Guyana-Venezuela Relations
Heads of Government received an update on the most recent developments in the controversy between the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
They noted that Guyana will be submitting its Memorial on 8 March 2022 in accordance with the schedule set by the International Court of Justice to hear the case on the merits of Guyana’s application concerning the validity of the Arbitral Award of 1899 and the related question of the definitive settlement of the land boundary between the two countries.
Heads of Government reiterated their full support for the ongoing judicial process that is intended to bring a peaceful and definitive end to the long-standing controversy between the two countries and urged Venezuela to participate in the process.
Heads of Government reaffirmed their firm and unwavering support for the maintenance and preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana.
ROAMING RATES IN CARICOM
Heads of Government welcomed the signing of the Declaration of St George’s Towards the Reduction of Intra CARICOM Roaming Charges to Facilitate the CARICOM Single ICT Space and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. They noted that while the new roaming arrangement did not provide for complete elimination of roaming charges within the CARICOM space, operators indicated that savings would be on the order of 70-98 per cent depending on the service and the market.
Heads of Government stated it was an interim but significant milestone with respect to the Single ICT Space Roadmap.
Heads of Government agreed to the establishment of a single regulatory space for telecommunications in CARICOM.
Heads of Government commended the Prime Minister of Grenada, the lead Head of Government with responsibility for Science and Technology in the Quasi-Cabinet and the Prime Minister of Barbados the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley for leading this exercise.
ORDER OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY
Heads of Government agreed to bestow the Order of the Caribbean Community on the former Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque of Dominica for his service to the Community.
THE COMMONWEALTH
Heads of Government expressed their overwhelming support for the re-election of Baroness Patricia Scotland as Secretary-General of The Commonwealth.
DATE AND VENUE OF THE FORTY-THIRD REGULAR MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE
The President of Suriname will assume the Chair of the Conference for the six-month period commencing 1 July 2022. The 43rd Regular Meeting of the Conference will be held in early July 2022.