Download COFCOR_Statement by the Chair

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
today present major challenges even as we start to emerge from the
worst recession that the world has experienced.
Recent and evolving 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.
2
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.
3
It is in an international environment marked by complexity and
uncertainty that CARICOM will be pursuing the 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 strategic development 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 environment demand 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 leverage our voices as one to derive maximum
benefit for the region.
4
The mission of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations is 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 and grasp opportunities that lie ahead.
I thank you.
5