By Senator the Honourable Maxine Mcclean
Opening Remarks
by Senator the Honourable Maxine McClean
Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Foreign Trade of Barbados
at the Opening of the Twentieth Meeting of the
Council for Foreign and Community Relations
(COFCOR)
Bridgetown, Barbados,
18 May 2017
Opening Remarks by Senator the Honourable Maxine McClean
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados
at the Opening of the Twentieth Meeting of the
Council for Foreign and Community Relations(COFCOR)
Bridgetown, Barbados, 18 May 2017
Secretary-General,
Colleague Ministers of Foreign Affairs,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a pleasure for me to welcome you to Barbados for this the Twentieth Meeting of the Council on Foreign and Community Relations(COFCOR).
This is a time of change. The range and depth of changes in the international environment which we are witnessing and experiencing todaypresent major challenges even as we start to emerge from the worst recession that the world has experienced.
Recent andevolving political developments,particularly those in our hemisphere and in Europe, involving some long-term partners of CARICOM, will likely have a profound impact on the Community.
All indications are that there will be substantial changes in the nature of our key bilateral relations. The imminent exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union will generate domestic and foreign policy changes in the United Kingdom.These in turn will affect the countries of CARICOM, given the deep and long-standing historical relationship. The extent of the impacts on economic, trade, and political relations, as well as development assistance between the UK and CARICOM will be determined by our preparedness and our coordinated efforts to shape our future relationship with the United Kingdom.
As we meet there are no signs that the United States Administration has formulated a policy for engaging our region. Nonetheless, policies being adopted and implemented by the U.S. Government are already having an impact on our sustainable development priorities and aspirations.
The changes will in turn impact on multilateral arrangements. We must devise a clear policy on engagement with the European Union on the exit of the United Kingdom and the ACP-EU relationship after the expiry of the Cotonou Agreement in 2020.
We also have to determine what effect the new stand of the United States Administration on climate change may have on the objectives of the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change and other efforts to mitigate climate change. This is a priority issue for CARICOM.
As members of this Council we must furnish the form and substance of the policy guidance to treat to these issues.
It is in an international environment marked by complexity and uncertainty that CARICOM will bepursuingthe Community’s ultimate goal:advancing the sustainable development of our region for the benefit of our people.
The majority of CARICOM States are small, vulnerable, highly indebted countries classified as medium income by the International Financial Institutions. Graduation from access to concessional resources and the erosion of preferential access to traditional markets stymie our efforts at sustainable development and resilience. The impact of climate change and the geographical characteristics of our countries present additional challenges.
For the foreseeable future, the region’s strategicdevelopment plans will be closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), encompassed in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Community can expect that the SDGs in conjunction with the Paris Agreement, will serve as guiding posts for development partners, both traditional and new, and this will provide new opportunities for CARICOM.
The present and future global environmentdemand that the Caribbean Community engage in a process of evaluation, revision,and consolidation. To advance and realise the vision of CARICOM, it is imperative that we deepen and strengthen Community engagement and,as a cohesive body leverageour voices as one to derive maximum benefit for the region.
The mission of the Council for Foreign and Community Relationsis clear and reflected in the comprehensive agenda that we will be considering during this Twentieth meeting. It is my expectation that our deliberations will be rich and productive. I am certain that at their end, the Community will be better placed to face the challenges that we must confront andgrasp opportunities that lie ahead.
I thank you.
1