THE FOURTH UK/Caribbean Ministerial Forum, hosted over two days last week in London by the British Government, marked a further effort to address significant issues on security, development, trade and investment that remain of deep concern to this region.
After initial doubts, the Forum has evidently emerged as a fixed mechanism for structured dialogue involving the Foreign Ministers of the Caribbean Community and the United Kingdom; observers from Canada, USA, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, as well as from the private sector and non-governmental organisations.
Long before the emergence of the UK-Caribbean Forum, there has been the proven usefulness of the CARICOM-Canada Summit meetings. Fresh efforts may now have to be made to have its USA-Caribbean equivalent, instead of the ad hoc meetings following the historic May 1997 Caribbean-USA Summit in Barbados with then President Bill Clinton.
After all, the UK, Canada and the USA remain vital trade and aid partners of the Caribbean.
While unfortunate misunderstandings and even tension in relations may develop as a consequence of differences on issues, the reality is that the governments of the Caribbean and the administrations in London, Ottawa and Washington understand the value in maintaining historically good relations, pursued with mutual respect.
The Issues
Last week's UK-Caribbean Forum, hosted by the British Government, may not have attracted the media attention it deserved, but the Communiqué provides a useful guide to the issues discussed on regional security, international trade policy, the development agenda and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
It was recognised, for instance, that development efforts of Caribbean Governments can be undermined in several ways, including security threats in all their manifestations; the ongoing losses of much needed human resources as a consequence of the HIV/AIDS pandemic; and the continuing exodus of skilled personnel from the region.
Of importance was the recognition, as noted in the Communiqué, that the varied threats to development in the Caribbean region are inextricably linked and, consequently, a holistic approach, with shared responsibilities between the developed and developing countries, is necessary.
We will monitor developments on how ideas and decisions of the Fourth UK-Caribbean Forum are followed through before the Fifth Forum takes place in Barbados in 2006.