Mexico seen as Caribbean ally

Monday, 05 May 2014 01:10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

thenews.com.mx

THE NEWS

“Mexico’s role in the development of the Caribbean has always been integral,” said Alfonso Munera, general secretary of the African Caribbean Society (ACS), and Irwin LaRocque, general secretary of the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

During the fourth annual Summit of the ACS held in Merida on Sunday, Munera said that the historical role of Mexico in the region is unquestionable, recalling that at the time of its inception in 1994, Mexico held the seat of leadership, as well as a decade later in 2004.

Proof of this, Munera said, can also be seen in the integration of the Caribbean island countries with the surrounding mainland, as accomplished with the continual support of Mexico.

Since 1973, when Caricom was first conceived, Mexico has been an active partner in the region in the development of areas such as scientific innovation, farming, maritime transport, and the exchange of information technology.

At the third annual Mexico-Caricom meeting held last Wednesday, Prime Minister of Barbados Freundel Stuart also commented on the cooperation of Mexico in the development of the region as being indispensable.

In the upcoming months, Mexico will be offering training to more than 140 agricultural workers from member states of Caricom in order to improve productivity and ensure access to nutritional food for more people.

Additionally, Mexico will also be providing training for Spanish language teachers to eliminate cultural barriers.

Peña Nieto opens Caricom summit

Wednesday, 30 April 2014 01:10

Pres. announces funds to fight natural disasters’ effects

BY MAURILIO SOTO

The News

President Enrique Peña Nieto announced that Mexico will provide $14 million to the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to fight the effects of natural disasters in the region.

Peña Nieto’s announcement was made during the opening ceremony for the third summit of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) opened in Mérida, Yucatán, on Tuesday, where he promised that the summit will provide concrete benefits for the 14 nations making up the association.

He also unveiled the 2014-15 Technical and Scientific Cooperation Program, which he said will help train Spanish-language science teachers and support research for public policy that promotes the development of tech businesses in the region, as well as announcing that Mexico has signed an agreement with the Inter-American Agricultural Cooperation Institute which he said will boost the region’s agricultural output.

We Mexicans are also a Caribbean nation,” he said. “This is a great opportunity for us to take advantage of the political will expressed here to strengthen ties between our countries. I repeat the willingness of my administration for us to work together on behalf of all Caribbean nations.”

Before the summit officially began, Foreign Relations Secretary José Antonio Meade Kuribreña met with Colombian Foreign Affairs Minister María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar and Guatemalan Foreign Affairs Minister Fernando Carrera Castro.

The three officials analyzed methods of strengthening relations between the three countries, specifically on issues that they face together and issues on the regional and multilateral agenda, though they did not mention any details.