THE commencement in 2015 of negotiations for the United Nations (UN) Post-2015 Development Agenda is an area of interest for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), given the importance of ensuring that the interests of Member States are addressed.This point was belaboured by CARICOM’s new Chairman, Bahamian Prime Minister Perry Christie, who, in a statement on Friday, said, “This is of keen interest to our Community, as it is important that the concerns of small, vulnerable states like ours must be taken into account and acted upon.

“We have taken action in this regard by ensuring that our concerns and interests are part of the platform for the negotiations agreed to last September in Samoa by the grouping of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).”
According to Christie, discussions of the UN’s Post-2015 Development Agenda will ensure that a more effective route to the sustainable development of all states is found.
The UN’s Post-2015 Development Agenda addresses global development beyond 2015, one that builds on and consolidates the gains made via the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

FOCUS ON PEOPLE
Additionally, relative to the implementation of the Community’s five-year strategic plan, the CARICOM Chairman assured that in going forward there will be increased emphasis on the development of young people.
Christie said, “It will be my duty to work with my colleague Heads and the Secretary-General to lay the foundations for the implementation of our Strategic Plan. Of particular importance will be the high- priority areas identified for focused implementation over the next five years. These will be critical as it is imperative that we find the means to reverse the dire economic situation with which so many of us are faced.”
He added, “I think that there will be an important discussion on the investment in the cultural development of our community, including sports and music. There must be increased focus on this part of our human development as we look toward the future of the Region,” he said.
The priority areas of focus of CARICOM’s five-year strategic plan are: Accelerating implementation and use of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME); Introduction of measures for macro-economic stabilisation; building competitiveness, and unleashing key economic drivers to transition to Growth and Generate Employment; human capital development; advancing Health and Wellness; enhancing citizens’ Security and Justice; Climate Adaptation and Mitigation, and Disaster Mitigation and Management; Developing the single, secure ICT space; deepening Foreign Policy coordination (to support strategic repositioning of CARICOM and desired outcomes; Public Education, Public Information and Advocacy; and reform of the CARICOM Secretariat, the organs, bodies, institutions and governance arrangements.
Additionally, the integrated strategic priorities are: building economic resilience; social resilience; environmental resilience; technological resilience; strengthening the CARICOM Identity and Spirit of Community; and strengthening community governance, along with coordinated foreign policy and research and development and innovation.
The new CARICOM chair said, “This Plan is a bold step that demonstrates our determination to provide the best options for the growth and development of our people. This Plan is an important part of the reform process in our Community and we stand to be judged both by its success and the actions we take in its implementation.
“In repositioning our Community, as this Plan seeks to do, we will be aiming at making it more resilient to the internal and external factors which hinder our efforts at attaining sustainable development in a rapidly changing world.”
CARICOM’s first ever Strategic Plan was approved by CARICOM Heads at their 35th Regular Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda from July 1 to 4, 2014, and identifies eight integrated Strategic priorities for the Community over the five-year period 2015 to 2019, and key areas of interventions for each.
“The responsibility is now mine to continue to advance the interests of our Community and strengthen the integration process with the assistance of my colleague Heads of Government and the Secretary-General, and the support of the people of CARICOM,” Christie said.