To overcome intra-regional transport problems, Caricom leaders have been urged to do as St Kitts has done and explore options to make travelling easier – and that regional states can do this together.
St Kitts Prime Minister Terrence Drew made the call on Wednesday citing intra- regional transport problems as he addressed Caricom leaders .
This was at the opening of Caricom’s 44th summit in the Bahamas.
Drew was the first speaker at the function, which was attended by Caricom leaders, including T&T Prime Minister Keith Rowley.
Earlier that day, Rowley and St Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, who were in Guyana for an Energy Expo, were refused by American Airlines to check in at the VIP lounge of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
Both leaders were scheduled to board a flight to Miami to get to the Bahamas for the Caricom summit. AA’s action was heavily criticised by Guyana’s Government, which stated that AA has continued paying scant regard to Guyana’s requests for entitlements and has caused embarrassment to all involved.
The US Embassy in T&T, to whom Guardian Media posed questions yesterday, appeared to distance itself from AA.
But Guyana–also contacted by Guardian Media– may have more to say on the issue ahead.
St Kitt’s PM Drew, addressing leaders who included US officials , said the Caribbean community today stands at the crossroads.
“We must focus our attention on the myriads of challenges confronting us as small island developing states and low-lying coastal communities in ever increasing hostile global environments.”
Noting Caricom’s Single Market and Economy– a summit agenda item– Drew added, “ It is difficult to extol the virtues of the CSME without addressing the proverbial ‘elephant in the room’ - intra regional transport,”
He added: “The reality is that it is too difficult and too costly for the people of the region to move and exercise their rights within the single space created for them to do so at optimal levels,”
“For example, coming to this meeting in the Bahamas is a classic case in point. Many of us had to fly to Miami overnight there before taking a flight the following day to our destination here in Nassau, Bahamas,”
“It takes no less than 24 hours to move from country- to- country within our region at times, compared to other nations, developed countries with highly developed transport means and modalities. We in the Caribbean remain at a disadvantage in realising the benefits of the CSME that the framers of the Caricom treaty envisaged.”
Drew said that moving from New York to Washington takes a mere four hours by car and less than two hours by aircraft. “The contrast is a stark reality of the challenge we face on an on -going basis here in the Caribbean,” he added.
Drew said that Chapter 6 of Caricom’s Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas provided the framework for the organisation of efficient, reliable, affordable transport services throughout the community and the promotion of co-operative arrangements for the provision of transport services.
“We recognise that several bodies of work have been invested in this regard,” Drew added.
He said the CDB and other key players continue to seek a sustainable solution to fix the gap that exists and to “breathe life into Chapter 6.”
Drew urged Caricom – approaching its golden jubilee – to redouble efforts to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of its organs.
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Embassy refers queries on AA’s snub of PMs to airline
The US Embassy in T&T has referred to American Airlines queries about AA’s snubbing of Prime Minister Keith Rowley and Ralph Gonsalves in Guyana on Wednesday.
Guardian Media sent queries to the US Embassy on its view of what occurred, whether any apology has been given by US authorities to the two leaders and Guyana and if US authorities discussed the matter with AA.
The reply received from a US Embassy spokesman was: “American Airlines is a private company. We recommend that you contact the airline about its policy.”
An email concerning queries on the issue had been sent to AA’s email address on the matter. No reply was received.
The Guyana Foreign Ministry’s press statement on Wednesday, chastising AA’s action, had stated its intention to formally communicate its displeasure “of this most recent action by the airline that has caused embarrassment not only nationally, but also to our regional friends.”
Yesterday, Guardian Media sent queries to Guyana’s Foreign Minister Hugh Todd on whether his Government had communicated its views, whether AA has responded to its actions, if the airline had apologised to Guyana and the two leaders and if Guyana had communicated the issue to US officials at the Caricom Summit.
Todd is at the Bahamas summit.
Todd’s personal assistant subsequently told Guardian media via WhatsApp,” The press statement remains our position. Hon Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation can speak on the matter when he returns from the (Caricom) heads meeting,”
T&T’s Foreign Affairs Minister Amery Browne didn’t answer queries on the AA matter or summit developments.
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Zelenskyy to address Caricom leaders today
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address Caricom leaders today, Bahamas Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell has said.
Mitchell said that the Ukrainian leader will be addressing the regional leaders by video link from the Ukrainian capital.
Caricom had in February last year, issued a statement “strongly” condemning the military attacks and invasion of Ukraine by Russia and called “for the immediate and complete withdrawal of the military presence and cessation of any further actions that may intensify the current perilous situation in that country.
“The recognition by The Russian Federation of the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk represents a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine,” Caricom said, noting that “the hostilities against Ukraine go counter to the principles of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in the internal affairs of another sovereign state and the prohibition on the threat or use of force, and the peaceful resolution of disputes, which are the bedrock of this Community”.