Caricom Heads Meet US President

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Regional

Wednesday, 18 April 2012 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St John's - Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, along with his CARICOM Head colleagues and the president of the Dominican Republic, met on Sunday April 15 with President of the United States Barack Obama.

Meeting on the margins of the VI Summit of the Americas, Caribbean leaders discussed ways to strengthen co-operation between the Caribbean and the United States.  

President Obama recalled that at the V Summit of the Americas, held in Trinidad & Tobago in 2009, he had pledged that his administration would work with the Caribbean on a number of initiatives which would be of mutual benefit to the Caribbean and the United States.

“I have a personal interest in the Caribbean and I want to hear from you what the successes and challenges have been,” the president said.

Among the issues raised by CARICOM leaders was the continued threat posed by the illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons and drugs and the need for a more targeted response taking into account the specific challenges faced by each country. 

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Other issues raised included the need for more collaboration on energy security, people-centered development initiatives, healthcare, specifically in the area of non-communicable diseases, trade, and education.

The Caribbean leaders also expressed support for the recently announced broad-band initiative for Latin America and the Caribbean, and the 100,000 Strong in the Americas, an initiative to increase international study in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“I am very pleased that we had the opportunity to speak directly with President Obama and to hear him reiterate his commitment to the Caribbean region,” Prime Minister Spencer said.

“I believe that our discussions have laid the groundwork for new ways of co-operating and I look forward to the further elaboration of the newly launched initiatives related to broad band access and student exchange programmes."

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