OAS Assistant Secretary General tells Miami Conference Strong Economies Best Way To Tackle Threats In Caribbean and Central America
MIAMI – Speaking at the 31st annual Miami Conference organized by Caribbean Central American Action, the Organization of American States’ (OAS) Assistant Secretary General, Albert Ramdin, accentuated the need for stronger economies in the Caribbean and Central America, saying that is the best way to deal with social, economic, environmental or security-related threats.
“Creating employment and promoting investment are critical to any strategy to strengthen vulnerable economies in transition,” declared Ambassador Ramdin. “It should be clear to all of us by now that the best way to deal with threats or challenges, whether they be social, economic, environmental or security-related, in the Caribbean and Central America, is to make the small economies of the region stronger, sustainable and better able to withstand external shocks.”
“A Region Poised for Growth” is the theme of this year’s Conference, where the OAS Assistant Secretary General is joining a host of leaders from the public and private sectors and civil society of the Caribbean and Central America. Focusing on agribusiness, energy, apparel manufacturing, financial services, telecommunications and information technology, tourism and transportation, the conference is also discussing such other topics as education, disaster responsiveness, energy security, corporate social responsibility and transportation security.
Ambassador Ramdin urged Caribbean and Central American leaders and principal policy makers to “expedite the development of a comprehensive forward looking agenda,” and to agree collectively within each region on a strategic approach for implementation. He cited the shared interests and common values of the United States and the countries of the Caribbean and Central America as an immediate and solid basis for pursuing this strategic objective. He said the United States could deliver on the promise of creating wealth in the smaller countries by dealing with the trade imbalance; restructuring the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI); and by facilitating economic diversification and supporting, where appropriate, the transition towards financial and other services.
Renewing the call for a “more holistic, comprehensive and results-oriented development paradigm that focuses on providing opportunity, equality, and equity to all in our societies,” Ambassador Ramdin said the OAS has been working closely with member states to advance concrete partnerships to integrate environmental considerations into development, poverty alleviation, and social and economic policies. As well, he stressed that governments, the private sector and civil society need a new socio-economic contract.
Ramdin used the opportunity at the Miami Conference to laud the conduct of Jamaica’s general elections of last September as a peaceful and orderly exercise, to which he had led the OAS team of election monitors. He also offered congratulations to the new Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who is also in Miami to deliver a keynote address at the Conference.
