Caribbean countries should be represented at G20

Caricom Secretary General Sir Edwin Carrington has said that the region should be accorded representation to forums such as the G20. He stated that the Caribbean Community has no voice, as such, when issues common to the territories are ventilated and discussed.

At the end-of-year press briefing to present his parting message, Dr Carrington said he believes Caricom should be allowed some form of access to the G20, since climate change, crime, and regional security are issues affecting the region. 

“As if our inherent vulnerabilities are not enough, to add insult to injury, we do not have a voice on these very institutions that take decisions which affect our economic viability,” the outgoing secretary general pointed out. 

He stressed that Caricom is forced to rely on partners that are critical and are vibrant advocates of its interest on these forums, to which it has no access. 

The secretary general disclosed that the record levels of crime, violence, insecurity and economic and social dislocation can be traced back in large measure to the illegal trade in small arms and like weapons. 

He listed transnational organised crime; drug trafficking, and other illegal activities as associate spin-offs of the arms trade, and he stated that these activities place an enormous burden on law enforcement and judicial services.  

“We, therefore, look forward to the upcoming workshop which will help the region in preparation for negotiations on the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty.” 

Carrington said that the region — mostly comprising small, highly-indebted, vulnerable, middle income countries (SHIVMIC) — is still reeling from the effects of the global financial meltdown, which had a devastating impact on the economy of the region. 

 “These countries were the most severely affected by this crisis that was not of their making, but yet have been at a disadvantage by their inability to access concessionary financing consequent to their classification as middle income countries – a process which emphasises their modest income levels but ignore their indebtedness.”    

Carrington added that these very developing islands and low-lying countries are also severely threatened by climate change, and as such the issue is not abstract. 

Citing Caricom’s “1.5 To Stay Alive” campaign, Carrington noted that the expected rise in global temperature by 2020 calls for a much more proactive approach in terms of awareness and practical mechanisms. Carrington demits office at the end of the year, after 18 years of service to the secretariat. 

Deputy Secretary General, Professor Edward Greene, would also be retiring on December 31.