GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, Wednesday, called for greater collaboration between his country and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), saying it was necessary to revamp the old policies where the South American country had placed more emphasis on relationships with the more prosperous developed nations.
He said that Brazil had developed this idea that it could have gotten the rich countries to invest in the country.
“But in 2003, when I took office, we decided to prioritize our relationship with the countries of South America, Latin America, and the countries that are members of CARICOM and the African continent,” he said in an address to the CARICOM leaders in the final day of their four-day summit.
He said it was important to remember that Brazil had, in the past, embassies and resident diplomats in all CARICOM countries, “and we learned a lesson with all of this in that the similarities that we have taken account of the realities of our countries help us much more than to rely simply on the aid coming from our former colonizers.
“And so that’s why I am glad to be back here in Guyana and to participate in the 46th conference of heads of government in the Caribbean Community.
He recalled attending a CARICOM summit in 2005 and becoming Brazil’s first head of state to address the summit. In 2010, he hosted the first Brazil CARICOM summit.
“We are aware of many problems facing the region. Food insecurity, which, according to the World Food Programme, affects half of the Caribbean population, and climate change, which jeopardizes the whole climate, especially island countries.
“I want to stress that these two problems are at the core of the discussions carried out by Brazil in international fora. I also emphasize that those two problems have the same root of inequality.
He said the fight against inequality in the world is also a fight for the Caribbean people, adding, “It is not possible that on a planet that produces enough food to feed the whole world population, around 735 million people do not have much to eat.
“It is not possible that rich countries which bear the main responsibility for the climate crisis continue to fall short of the commitment to dedicate US$100 billion to developing countries for climate action,” Lula said.
He told the CARICOM leaders it is not possible that the world spends 2.2 trillion US dollars annually on weapons, adding, “We all know that war leads to destruction, suffering, and death, affecting, above all, innocent civilians.
“Brazil will continue to fight for world peace. A war in distant Ukraine affects the whole planet because it raises the price of food and fertilizers.
“A genocide in Gaza affects all humankind because it puts into question our very sense of humanity, and it collaborates once more the preferred choice for military spending over investments in the fight against hunger in Palestine, Africa, South America, or the Caribbean.”
Lula said he heard from Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley that her island had over 20 flights weekly to the United States but none to Brazil.
“Our biggest obstacle is the lack of connection, whether by land, sea, or air. One of the priorities for integration and development routes is the Guiana Shield, which covers Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.
“We want to pave our way to the Caribbean. We will open corridors capable of meeting supply demands and strengthening food security in the region,” he said, adding that Brazil can offer food at competitive prices.
“But it can also help improve local agricultural productivity. I invite for that reason CARICOM countries to join the global alliance against hunger and poverty that the Brazilian G20 chairmanship will launch,” he said, adding that Brazil was looking to promote public policy for this cause.
We see the bloc [CARICOM] as a promising economic partner and a strategic interlocutor,” President Lula said.
He said the creation of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP 28 in Dubai was a historic achievement, warning that the “fight will not end until there are more funds in the adaptation and implementation of the 2030 agenda as a whole”.
He said as the host of COP 30, Brazil wants to work with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and “need to join forces to move forward in our mission of 1.5 degrees, accelerating the implementation of commitments already made and adopting more ambitious goals in 2025”.
Earlier, the CARICOM chairman and host, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, said, “Through regular dialogue and strong projects, we can forge mutually beneficial partnerships,” noting that the last Brazil- CARICOM summit was held 14 years ago.
Ali announced that the CARICOM- Brazil Joint Commission for strategic discussions would be operationalized this year, saying, “If momentum is sustained, Brazil and CARICOM stand to benefit enormously.
“CARICOM and Brazil share a rich history of south-south cooperation. We are united not only by geography but also by our common desire to build a prosperous, peaceful, and sustainable future for our people,” Ali said.
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