Prime Minister Perry Christie suggested yesterday that previous agreements reached between CARICOM and the United States (U.S.) were not lived up to.
Christie's comments were directed at U.S. President Barack Obama while he addressed the heads of government of CARICOM at the CARICOM-U.S. Summit in Kingston, Jamaica.
Obama attended the special meeting. While he did not provide details on the agreements, Christie said, "Mr. President, we met before in Port-of-Spain and in Cartagena. We agreed in those fora on specific actions.
"For many, the results in concrete terms did not match the loftiness of the declarations made there."This time, this meeting should mark a new and positive beginning for the CARICOM/U.S. relationship, with a mechanism for partnership in place for the progress of our region and its people."
Christie, the current chairman of CARICOM, began his speech by highlighting what he called the symbiotic relation between the U.S. and member states in the region.
"This meeting is important because it reinforces the obvious; the symbiotic relationship which exists between the United States and the region," he said. "We are joined by history, migration, commerce and geography.
"We are interdependent with, and upon the other. "In many respects, we are kith and kin. "It goes beyond treaties, agreements and trade.
It is a real live working relationship." He said many people in the region look at Obama's accomplishments "in the face of your country's own history of struggle for the dignity of man", they glory in his successes, and admire his leadership.
"Patterned after your personal success, they look to your country to help reinforce the message of social mobility, the promise of societal growth, economic development, equity and fairness," Christie said.
Christie said member states have long recognized the importance and value in pooling resources however, the magnitude of issues often overwhelms CARICOM's available resources and continued support from the United States in areas such as security is necessary.
"In my own country, as the closest offshore country to the United States, the benefits of security cooperation are obvious to our people," Christie said."The fight against transnational crime, including illegal migration is urgent.
The importation of guns from America wreaks havoc and needs to be stopped."That is but one country's example of the sense of urgency we feel on crime and security across the region."More must be done in a practical way to stop the crime.
"Let us work together to build a zone of peace, to stop crime,to end the violence, promote our young and ensure our common futures." Speaking to crime in the region, Christie said member states cannot "surrender" young people to "the negatives forces of crime and war in far flung climes".
There has been a 32 percent increase in murders in The Bahamas over last year."We cannot surrender them to the negative forces of crime and war in far flung climes," Christie said.
"If this meeting produces anything today, it must be the future of our young people. "If we fail in that mission, we do so at our peril.
"At the center then of this mission, for us, is that of human development. "This must be done in a safe and secure environment with respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all."
The prime minister said young people are the future of this region. He said there is no more compelling mission than to secure their futures by dispelling hopelessness, fixing joblessness and ensuring they receive a good education.
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