| 1.
We, the Heads of State and Government of the United
States of America and of the Caribbean Community Nations
of Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,
Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, meeting in Washington
D.C. on June 20, 2007, reaffirm our unequivocal
commitment to a secure and prosperous region and future
for the benefit of all of our citizens.
2. Recalling our shared history of
democracy, respect for human rights, social justice, and
cultural and ethnic diversity, we highlight the value of
our enduring friendship and recommit ourselves to
enhancing our partnership to reinforce the development
aspirations that guide our mutual priorities.
3. We pledge to continue promoting the
consolidation of democratic norms, values, and
institutions throughout the hemisphere and to enhance
accountability and respect for individual rights.
4. We agree to take steps to expand
economic opportunities for our people, to address the
threats of terrorism and crime, and to provide the
benefits of democracy to all members of our societies,
recognizing that democracy will best flourish if our
societies are stable and our economies are prosperous.
5. We recognize the establishment of the
CARICOM Single Market and Economy as a critical element
of the growth and development strategy of the Caribbean
Community.
6. We are determined to strengthen our
existing trade arrangements. We acknowledge President
Bush’s announcement to work with Congress to extend and
update the Caribbean Basin Trade Promotion Act and the
1991 Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. We
further commit to the harmonization of customs
procedures consistent with global standards and the
advancement of technical trade cooperation.
7. We reiterate our support for Caribbean
efforts to expand the services sector, and encourage a
focus on the international financial services sector to
facilitate a competitive means of economic
diversification while remaining committed to the
maintenance of appropriate regulatory and supervisory
practices, consistent with the highest international
standards.
8. Cognizant of the spread of HIV and
AIDS and the impact on the economic and social
development of our people, we pledge to deepen our
cooperation in health and welcome the initiative to
continue PEPFAR in the Caribbean. |
9.
Cognizant that more than 95 percent of CARICOM’s energy
needs are derived from fossil fuels, we pledge to
increase cooperation in this area to achieve
sustainable, secure, and affordable access to energy for
all our citizens.
10. We agree to increase cooperation
efforts in the field of education and workplace
training. We commit to strengthen teacher training by
expanding the Caribbean Centers for Excellence. We also
commit to strengthen human capacity in the Caribbean to
meet the demands of a 21st century employment
environment through partnering with academic
institutions and non-governmental groups as well as
through skills training for youth via the Entra-21
program.
11. We declare our intention to negotiate
an agreement on cooperation in Science and Technology
including Information Communication Technologies.
12. We recommit to our ongoing efforts of
cooperation in the area of disaster preparedness,
mitigation, and recovery.
13. We acknowledge the multidimensional
nature of the security threats and challenges faced by
our countries and pledge to continue to work together in
the fight against terrorism, trafficking in persons,
drugs and small arms, and transnational crime.
14. We also acknowledge the successful
security partnership developed to secure the CARICOM
Region during its hosting of the Cricket World Cup 2007.
To this end, we agree to continue strengthening the
Region’s security infrastructure.
15. We recognize the need to work more
closely on immigration security issues in a manner
respectful of national laws and government services
capacity and sensitive to the effects of human
displacement. We will jointly work toward the expansion
of the pilot reintegration program for deportees in
Haiti to include other CARICOM member states. We will
develop new ways to facilitate, coordinate, and
communicate between our immigration services.
16. We are heartened by the substantial
progress in Haiti made by the Government of President
Preval, with the support of international partners. We
recognize that Haiti will continue to require
substantial regional and international support in the
implementation of a consistent and long-term strategy of
institution and capacity building, and pledge to work
together with the three branches of the Haitian
Government.
17. On the occasion of Caribbean-
American Heritage Month, we pay tribute to the
generations of Caribbean-Americans who have helped shape
the spirit and character of the United States of America
and who continue to contribute to the growth and
development of the Caribbean. |
