Press Releases

PRESS STATEMENT

CONGRESSWOMAN STACEY PLASKETT TO ATTEND THE 40^TH REGULAR MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF GOVERNMENT OF THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM)

St. Thomas, USVI. – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett released the following statement regarding her upcoming participation in the CARICOM meetings to be held in St. Lucia:

“I am pleased to announce that I will be attending next week’s CARICOM meeting in St. Lucia. CARICOM is the premier organization of Caribbean nations: fifteen Member States and five Associate Members. Its members comprise approximately sixteen million citizens, 60% of whom are under the age of 30.  Its primary objectives are to promote economic integration and cooperation among its members, to ensure that the benefit of the integration are equitably shared and to coordinate foreign policy. The 40^th Regular Meeting of CARICOM will be held in St. Lucia July 3-5^th with the implementation of measure to enhance the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) as well as additional issues to support the Region’s growth and development high on the agenda.

“As a Co-Chair of the Congressional Caribbean Caucus and in recognition of my efforts to continually place the Virgin Islands in a position to be a vital advocate for the region in Washington, I was pleased to be invited by the Secretary-General, Irwin LaRocque, to attend the activities and engage with the Heads of Government next week.  CARICOM is the oldest surviving integration movement in the developing world. Great strides have been made, particularly through functional cooperation in education, in health, in culture, in security. CARICOM is a respected voice in international affairs because of its commitment to coordinated foreign policy.  I’m interested in speaking with the participants about issues of importance to our nation and to obtain a deeper perspective on the member’s countries concerns and issues that may be taken up by the United States.  Of course, foremost will be an attempt to understand and press for ways the Virgin Islands can work more closely with our Caribbean neighbors and support one another in economic development, national security and social and educational endeavors.”

“CARICOM rests on four main pillars: economic integration; foreign policy coordination; human and social development; and security – all issues very important to the Virgin Islands. I look forward to interacting with other distinguished members of CARICOM expressing to them the importance of the Virgin Islands and our commitment to the shared objective of the members of CARICOM.”

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