• Submitted by: Camila
• Politics and Government
• 12 / 09 / 2014

---

The V Summit CARICOM-Cuba held in Havana has the presence of heads of government and foreign ministers of Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Granada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia , Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

In the opening speech of the event Raul Castro called for the "review and update" the agreement on cooperation and trade between Cuba and the countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), to allow free access and circulation for those markets 300 products with "zero tariff".

As anticipated, they are making concerted efforts to "update and revision" of the trade agreement and bilateral cooperation in the area, towards this end, but did not specify whether it will be one of the agreements that may come out of this summit.

In this regard, he referred to the need for "small and vulnerable" countries receive "special and differential treatment in access to trade and investment".

Referring in particular to the exchange within the area of CARICOM, Castro considered that the development of investment among Caribbean countries "remains an unresolved issue" and, in particular, noted the difficulties of transporting goods.

In addition to cooperation in the area of trade and investment, emphasized the need for Caribbean nations join forces to "common challenges" such as climate change, health and education, as well as "conclude approaches to the development agenda post 2015 ".

The president reiterated that Cuba will continue to share his "modest achievements" in the Caribbean, in education and health, as well as in camps for the training of human resources, coping with natural disasters and the fight against Ebola.

He also announced that next triennium should begin to run two regional schools with support from Cuba: a School of Arts, to be based in Jamaica, and one for the "stimulating the development of children and young people with special educational needs "located in Guyana.

CARICOM was created in 1973 and the First Summit between Cuba and the countries of the bloc was conducted in 2002. Since then, the forum is held every three years on December 8, the date instituted as the CARICOM-Cuba Day.

Source: Diario de Cuba