Media release
25 November, 2009
Australian engagement with CARICOM
At the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago I met with Foreign Ministers and officials from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
CARICOM is the pre-eminent organisation in the Caribbean region. Its objective is economic and social integration of its member states and harmonisation on significant foreign policy issues.
The meeting was the first formal meeting between CARICOM and Australian Foreign Ministers and an important opportunity to enhance Australia’s relationship with the Caribbean.
Discussions with the CARICOM Ministers included climate change, the global financial crisis, food security and development assistance.
We agreed to look at ways to formalise such discussions into the future.
Australia proposes to work closely with CARICOM to address regional and global development challenges, especially the adverse impact of climate change.
Australia has a long-standing commitment to helping small island states address the particular challenges they face. Australia’s experience working closely with the members of the Pacific Islands Forum, which Australia currently chairs, is invaluable given the similar issues facing small island states in the Pacific and the Caribbean.
CARICOM’s 15 members are: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.
Media contacts
- Mr Smith's office 02 6277 7500
- Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555