Representatives of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and United Nations (UN) System began their Fourth General Meeting Thursday pledging to accelerate work towards the further development of the Region. At the formal opening ceremony at the CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Co-Chair of the meeting, Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Lolita Applewhaite recognised the UN’s support for CARICOM’s response to the global environment, but pointed to the challenges the region faced, in spite of the classification of many Caribbean states as middle income developing countries. Widening economic and social disparities through the erosion of preferential trade arrangements, the threat of insecurity through HIV/AIDS, traffic in illicit arms or terrorism, environmental degradation, social dislocation and unrest, were among the challenges she identified. She stated that CARICOM’s daunting task is, through its own efforts and global partnerships like those enjoyed with the UN, to counter the threats and access the promises of the evolving global reality on behalf of the Caribbean people. “ CARICOM is doing so through ambitious integration architecture - the Single Market and Economy (CSME) - and the UN continues to faithfully accompany the community as it strengthens itself to face the treacherous currents of the global sea change that is globalisation,” the Deputy Secretary General said. Assistant Secretary General, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and Co-Chair of the meeting, Mr Kwame Sundaram Jomo, hailed CARICOM as an important contributor to the UN’s work in the Caribbean region and noted the bold steps the community had taken to enhance its trade competitiveness and its work on advancing regional security. With regard to the launch of the CARICOM Single Market, Mr Jomo said the UN will continue to work with CARICOM to strengthen capacity, diversify exports He also referred to the community’s involvement in Haiti’s effort towards democracy and development and said that increased coordination between the UN and CARICOM could “go a long way towards fully addressing many of Haiti’s most pressing needs.” Mr Jomo stated that the UN remains strongly committed to helping your members address concerns like poverty, drug trafficking, crime and HIV/AIDS. The meeting reviewed the actions taken following the third meeting held in 2004 and discussion on the strategic objectives of the region to facilitate a more responsive programme of cooperation for the next two years, Implementation of the CARICOM Single Market and the development of a framework for the Single Economy; strengthening governance and security within the region; and advancing human and social development are among the other items on the agenda. The meeting concluded on Friday and officials have promised to issue a joint statement on the outcome. Reprinted from Caribbean Net News caribbeannetnews.com