BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders say they are encouraged by statements made by visiting United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, regarding improved relations with the North American country.
Rubio addressed the regional leaders at their 50th regular CARICOM summit on Wednesday for just 10 minutes and is holding further deliberations with them as a group and in bilateral meetings before his departure later today.
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that “he made a brief statement, which I found very encouraging.
“At one point, we were very concerned about what the message would have been, but I have to say it is a very positive message in terms of helping to secure the future of Caribbean countries, working very closely with Caribbean countries, recognising the fact that we are linked by geography, our people link us.
“The Caribbean has the largest diaspora in the United States, and our common humanity also links us, “ Browne said, adding, “I sense that the statement that he made, through brief, would have signalled a level of commitment to enhance the relationship between the United States and CARICOM, and that itself is encouraging”.
“We will have further discussions…and at that point we will get into more specifics,” he said, adding that the deliberations with the US Secretary of State are expected to last for more than an hour.
Dominica’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, said he, too, was encouraged by the brief encounter the leaders had with Rubio and was looking forward to the engagements later on Wednesday.
“We are looking forward to the more detailed discussions…and we will have an opportunity to engage and to exchange views,” Skerrit said, adding that the regional leaders welcomed Rubio’s visit.
“It’s important that the dialogue can continue. There are several hot topic issues that we’ll have to discuss and address and find mutual approaches to them,” Skerrit said, adding, “but I think it is important that we note the positive aspect of his presence in the Caribbean”.
Skerrit said that while he was not willing to share details of the presentation, he believes that the joint CARICOM-US discussions will allow for several issues to be raised.
“I’m sure that in some fashion, all of the issues on the Caribbean side and all of the issues on the US side will be raised. That’s the purpose of the engagement,” he said, adding that “I mean, the most important thing, the first step, is that there is dialogue”.
He said the fact that Rubio could make the time to come here personally ”is a clear intention on the part of the United States to engage and to share the views and to share the concerns and also to listen and to hear our views and our concerns.
“So I think we have to look at it from the positive side. Of course, we’ll wait for the outcome of the discussions to determine how fruitful or beneficial the engagement would have been.
‘But from our perspective as Caribbean leaders, and myself personally, I think it’s a positive sign of him being present,” Skerrit told reporters, adding “it is important that the dialogue continue”.
Haiti’s Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils Aime told reporters that he, too, was encouraged by the deliberations.
“It was very good. He just had a few messages saying he wanted to reinforce. The long-term relationship that has been going on between the United States and the Caribbean, and we are going to strengthen our relationship for the mutual benefit of CARICCOM nations and the United States,” he added.
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