TALLAHASSEE – During a gathering with Florida’s Governor, Mr. Charlie Crist, alongside a group of Consuls General from CARICOM nations in the Southern U.S., it was decided that multiple trade delegations would soon be formed for CARICOM countries, starting with the significant markets of Trinidad and Jamaica.
The meeting was held at the State Capitol office in Tallahassee on Thursday, (Oct. 25). Attending the meeting were representatives from the Department of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
There was a consensus to engage in conversations with Caribbean state agencies and cultural event organizers, including the yearly Caribbean Carnival and Jerk Festival. The aim is to explore how the State can integrate these events into Florida’s overall lineup of tourist attractions.
Ricardo Allicock, Jamaica’s Consul General and chair of the CARICOM Diplomatic Corps in South Florida, described the meetings as fruitful. He emphasized that the delegation received confirmation of Florida’s keen interest in collaborating with CARICOM and the broader Diaspora at the highest governmental levels.
Also resulting from the meeting, was an agreement for follow-up discussions “hopeful that there would be appreciable and positive results over the next year,” according to the Consul General.
Mr. Allicock said the talks focused on CARICOM’s trade ties with the State. They discussed how the Caribbean business community helps Florida’s economy. They also talked about education initiatives, technical cooperation, and immigration issues.
Regarding education, the delegation expressed to the Governor an interest in acquiring and creating greater access to scholarships for Caribbean students at educational institutions throughout the State. Presently, a large number of the student enrolment in several tertiary institutions in Florida were Caribbean nationals.
Immigration Policies
On the matter of immigration, the delegation pointed out to the Governor how those policies negatively impacted the Caribbean community especially in the area of deportation.
Highlighting the collaborative initiatives between the FDLE and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the Governor praised the cooperation among officers in their law enforcement endeavors across both areas. Moreover, it was decided that workshops would be organized for senior officials from Florida’s law enforcement agencies to enhance their understanding of the cultural behaviors and nuances within the Caribbean community.
Discussions also continued on environmental management with emphasis on cooperation in disaster preparedness and ways to partner in cutting edge approach to coastal management.
CARICOM Diplomatic Corp
The delegation included Mr. Edward Bushell of Barbados, Ms. Alma Adams of Bahamas, Mr. Gerard Greene, Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Ralph Latortue, Haiti and Mr. Ian Sweeney of Antigua.
Caribbean nationals continue to impact positively, the economy of the United States as they hold positions in corporate leadership, public service, academia, and private enterprises such as law, medicine, real estate and the media.
