COTED statement

By Michelle Nurse On Nov 13, 2014

Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Secretary-General of CARICOM addresses Ministers and delegates at the opening ceremony of the 39th meeting of COTED.

Key agenda items of the 39th Meeting of COTED were strengthening the operation and effectiveness of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the free movement and the facilitation of travel; engagement with the private sector; external economic and trade relations; and the strategic direction for growth and development of the Region.

Discussions on free movement and the facilitation of travel were conducted against the background of an acknowledgement that the majority of persons move hassle-free throughout the Region. There was an entreaty by Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, Secretary-General of CARICOM, for adherence to Regional decisions, since apathy to the implementation of those decisions was having a debilitating effect on the Community.