CARICOM PREPARES COMMON STANCE TO RIO+20 SUMMIT

Georgetown, April 25 (PL)- The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) outlines a common stance to attend the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, when climate change now threatens the existence of this region.

During the recent 39 special session of the Council for Trade and Development (Cotecd) of CARICOM, based here, the participants agreed to unify criteria for the meeting in Brazil in June.

According to the secretary of CARICOM, Irwin LaRocque, the meeting must be for the bloc, created in 1973 following the Treaty of Chaguaramas, more than a simple meeting.

It is a process that presents it self as a global platform to talk with one voice and clearly articulate the unique realities, perspectives, priorities and concerns of the Caribbean, said LaRocque.

This region has a rich and diverse environment, and we have been the stewards of the highest level of natural resources per capita in the world, stressed LaRocque.

Our task is to use these resources to benefit the region and ensure a better quality of life for people as ultimate objective of the integration movement, stressed the official.

LaRocque said that 20 years after the Rio Summit, the Caribbean faces high debt levels, greater vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters and the negative effects of climate change.

With a view to the next meeting, we must reach consensus on a common approach to give expression to the national green economy in the context of the particular circumstances of each country, LaRocque said.

We must invest our precious time and efforts more wisely, we must plan our strategies in line with the principles of sustainable development of two decades ago, urged the president Cotecd, Lisel Alamilla.

<