GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat says it has started a series of discussions with the leadership of the regional civil society stakeholders as the Secretariat seeks to review its process for the engagement of the social partners.
CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett, addressing the first such meeting, told the senior management teams of the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) and the Caribbean Congress of Labour (CCL) that this renewed focus is expected to enable more meaningful dialogue and exchanges.
“We want to ensure greater collaboration, coordination, and inclusivity in interactions with the Organs and Bodies, CARICOM Secretariat, Community institutions, and our social partners,” she said, noting that one objective of the series of consultations was to develop a mechanism for structured, ongoing engagement.
A statement issued following the deliberations said that both groups welcomed the initiative with the CPDC officer in charge, Richard Jones, committing to engage its members for their views and perspectives on regional development policies and programs, share Community information, and help to raise awareness of the CARICOM Charter of Civil Society.
CCL president Andre Lewis expressed appreciation for the Secretariat’s efforts to include the labor sector in formulating and implementing policy, noting that it is essential to reflect workers’ views.
“The Secretariat plans to host ongoing consultations with regional social and economic partners to allow for information sharing and a more diverse citizen contribution to the policies and programs which drive the regional integration process,” the statement added.
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