(CARICOM Secretariat) Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, on Tuesday said he looked forward to the development of a more structured and formal mechanism for cooperation between Israel and CARICOM. He made this statement during a ceremony at the CARICOM Secretariat headquarters, Turkeyen, Guyana, where Ambassador to CARICOM from Israel, Amiram Magid, presented his credentials. Ambassador Magid is the first Israeli Ambassador to CARICOM.
In his remarks, Ambassador LaRocque said he was convinced that the new Ambassador’s record as a fully engaged and diligent diplomat will serve to further enhance relations between Israel and CARICOM.
“CARICOM has much to gain and learn from Israel and, as in any meaningful partnership, I am sure that Israel has much to learn from the Caribbean Community” he said.
According to the Secretary General, there were two important areas in which CARICOM could benefit from a strengthened relationship at the regional level: Protected Agriculture and Water Management. He said CARCOM welcomed the opportunity to begin discussions in that regard.
Ambassador LaRocque thanked the Israeli Ambassador for his country’s contribution to the Permanent Memorial for the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave trade being spearheaded by CARICOM. He also used the opportunity to draw the new Ambassador’s attention to what he referred to as a call being sounded by the Region’s leaders for attention to be paid to the issue of reparations for the consequences of slavery.