News: U.S., Caribbean to discuss democracy & trade

(USINFO 21/03/2006) Washington - The United States shares a tradition of democracy and respect for human rights with the nations of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), and will discuss these issues as well as trade cooperation and security and law enforcement at the CARICOM meeting of government ministers March 21-22 in the Bahamas, says the U.S. State Department.

In a series of March 21 fact sheets entitled “The United States at the CARICOM Ministerial,” the U.S. State Department outlined the themes to be discussed at the meeting by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her Caribbean counterparts.

The fact sheet on democracy and human rights notes that the United States reinforces democratic values in the Caribbean through programs on democracy, conflict resolution and humanitarian assistance. These U.S. efforts include supporting elections, strengthening civil society, improving judicial systems and utilizing cultural exchange programs. Building on a common tradition of democracy and respect for human rights, the United States and CARICOM nations will coordinate closely on issues in these areas, including the political transition in Haiti, the fact sheet states.

On security and law enforcement, the United States and its CARICOM partners will discuss cooperation on migration, illegal drug trafficking and money laundering.

“The Caribbean is the third border of the United States,” the fact sheet says. “As neighbors, the United States and CARICOM countries work together to stem the flow of illegal drugs and to promote security in the Western Hemisphere.”

As part of this effort, the United States will provide almost $10 million to the region during 2006 to address issues such as narcotics and small arms trafficking, money laundering and illegal immigration.

Within this context, the Third Border Initiative will strengthen the ability of Caribbean institutions to address social and economic problems, combat transnational crime and enhance regional security, the fact sheet adds. The United States also will fund the development of a Regional Information and Intelligence Sharing System.

Trade cooperation is another important issue that American officials will emphasize at the CARICOM meeting.

“We are working with our Caribbean partners to strengthen the region's economies and competitiveness in the global marketplace,” the State Department fact sheet says.

Currently, the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) provides the 24 beneficiary countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market for most goods. In addition to the CBI, which will continue until 2008 or until another free-trade agreement enters into force, the United States also will explore with CARICOM nations how to deepen public-private partnerships aimed at improving the region’s trade capacity, investment climate and competitiveness, the State Department said.