Report of the Meeting

Thursday 17 May

In accordance with what was agreed upon during the 1st Inter-Secretariat Meeting on Inter-Institutional Co-operation in the Greater Caribbean, the ACS Secretariat convened the 2nd Inter-Secretariat Meeting on Inter-Institutional Co-operation in the Greater Caribbean. This meeting was chaired by the ACS Secretary General, Professor Norman Girvan and was attended by delegations from the Secretariats of the Founding Observers, namely: CARICOM, ECLAC, SELA, SICA and SIECA. Also present were delegations from the Andean Community (CAN), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM), the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CaribExport) and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). The complete list of participants is included in this report as Annex 1.

I.             Review of Progress made and Exchange of Ideas on Inter-Secretariat Co-operation since the 1st Inter-Secretariat Meeting on Inter-Institutional Co-operation

As agreed at the last Meeting, the first part of this meeting was dedicated to evaluating the progress made in the tasks approved during the first Meeting. In this respect, the ACS Secretary General delivered a presentation that examined Inter-Secretariat Co-operation since the First Meeting, against the back drop of the political and economic advancements made in the region. Said document is attached to this report as Annex 2. Following this was an exchange of opinions during which delegates were asked to express their comments toward developing a joint work programme.

Particular significance was placed on the following matters during the discussions held among the participants:

1)   With respect to trade, several participants identified the following elements as being especially relevant:

a)   Multilateral Sphere. The possibility of seeking mechanisms that would facilitate the coordination of positions, especially in light of the possible commencement of a new extended round of negotiations in the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Qatar.

b)   Within the hemisphere. The possibility of coordinating  positions in the FTAA in seeking to obtain the maximum benefits of the process.

c)    Treatment of small economies. With respect to the FTAA,  delegations expressed particular interest in the possibility of deepening knowledge, as well as exploring ways in which to coordinate positions on special and different treatment for small economies.

     d) Institutional links. Mention was made of the importance of not only strengthening institutional ties in the Greater Caribbean, in pursuing possible coordinated positions in the different trade negotiations being carried out by the countries and sub-regions of the Greater Caribbean, but also increasing inter-relation among integration systems and promoting extended integration

     e) Also mentioned was the importance of facilitating business in order to promote trade, particularly regarding the issuing of visas for businessmen.

2)      Information technology. Special emphasis was placed on the importance of promoting the use of new technologies in the ability of regional organizations to strengthen institutional ties among themselves, and also for the economic development of their Member Countries.

3)      Transport. The decisive role played by air and maritime transport in the economies of the region was noted, in addition to the need for information mechanisms to monitor them, which would serve as an instrument in the search for improved and more efficient transport services.

4) Sustainable development and the Environment. Reference was made to the importance of putting joint initiatives into practice to promote the sustainable development of the region, including the creation of a Sustainable Tourism Zone in the Greater Caribbean. In this respect, the CARICOM Secretariat expressed the hope that the ACS Secretariat would be given the opportunity to participate as an observer at the preparatory meetings for the CARICOM Tourism Summit to be held in July of this year in the Bahamas.

II.            Revision and Approval of the Inter-Secretariat Project on the Integrated Information System of the Greater Caribbean

The ACS Secretariat delivered a presentation on the revised proposal of the Inter-Secretariat Project to create the Integrated Information System of the Greater Caribbean. The meeting approved the project proposal in principle and established the following:

1)   Participating agencies confirmed their general commitment to develop the project proposal.

2) It was decided that such commitment will be formalized through a document signed by the founding observers. Said document is attached to this report as Annex 3.  In addition, it was suggested that once the details are defined regarding the scope and nature of participation by the various organizations, a memorandum of understanding will be signed.

3) The ACS Secretariat and SIECA were entrusted with the task of drafting a proposal within two weeks. Said proposal would provide details on the following elements:

a)      Thematic content

b)      Budget and requirements

c)       Sustainability of the project

d)      Schedule of activities

e)      Organizational structure of the project

4)       The ACS Secretariat will define the strategy for obtaining the funding necessary to execute the project.

III.            Reports on the developments made in the tasks agreed upon during the First Inter-Secretariat Meeting on Inter-Institutional Co-operation in the Greater Caribbean

Inventory of Topics of Interest, Studies and Projects related to Trade in the Greater Caribbean that are in Progress or have been Completed between 1998-2001.

The ACS Secretariat delivered a presentation on the inventory of Topics of Interest, Studies and Projects related to Trade in the Greater Caribbean that are in Progress or have been Completed between 1998-2001. It also reviewed co-operation in the area of trade. 

With respect to the inventory, it was decided that organizations will forward their comments and any additional, up to date or complementary information, to the ACS Secretariat before the end of the two week period, so that they could be incorporated into the final document.

Furthermore, participants agreed to broaden the coverage of the inventory to develop their subsequent versions in such a manner that all trade related information or information systems of participating entities would be included, in addition to which a database available on the Internet would be developed. In this respect, the following was decided:

1)   The inventory would be published on the Internet and circulated via email among those attending this meeting, on a quarterly basis.

2)   Expand information on each element to be included in the inventory in order to cover language and accessibility, and this would indicate if the resource is available (via the Internet, sales, free access, hard copy, etc).

3)   Include schedules of trade activities and meetings in the exchange of information.

4)   The first version of the document will be published on the Internet and circulated before the end of June 2001.

5)   For subsequent publications, two communications will be forwarded to all participating organizations during the first month of the quarter, requesting the respective information.

6)   Said organizations will have up to the 15th of the third month to send the corresponding information.

7)   The ACS Secretariat must publish the updated inventory on the Internet by the last day of the third month.

With respect to trade in general, the following agreements were reached:

1)      Regarding the possibility of coordinating positions, it was agreed that a reflection group would be formed to discuss the treatment of the matter concerning small economies in international trade negotiations. This group would be open to participation from the Secretariats of the Greater Caribbean. The ACS Secretariat will determine the date and venue for the meeting, following consultations with the participating Secretariats.

2)      The CARICOM Secretariat offered to pursue discussions with the Chair of the Ministerial Committee and the RNM with a view to having the ACS Secretary General participate in the meeting of the Council of Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and the meeting of the subcommittee of the FTAA.

Inventory on Training Programmes in External Negotiations

The SELA Secretariat reported on the status of the progress made in the Inventory on Training Programmes in External Negotiations. This report was complemented by interventions of participants of other organisations.

It was agreed that the document would be modified to include additional information on the programmes, such as general content and requirements, in order to refer to future and past programmes. Delegations will submit further information to complement the inventory.

Friday 18 May

Inter-Secretariat Co-operation in Sustainable Tourism

The ACS Secretariat delivered a presentation on the developments made toward establishing the Sustainable Tourism Zone of the Caribbean (STZC), in addition to a summary of the activities and projects for which the Special Committee on Sustainable Tourism is responsible.

The representative of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) then presented a summary of the 2001 Work Plan in the framework of the Sustainable Tourism Development Programme.

Other delegations, namely: CARICOM, SELA, SIECA and CAN reported on work programmes in the area of tourism. The delegation of the SELA Secretariat presented a document on the co-operation project that is to be carried out with the Spanish Agency for International Co-operation (AECI) in the area of tourism. In turn, the CAN Secretariat presented a summary on tourism development in the Andean Community. These documents are attached to this report as Annexes 4 and 5 respectively.

The similarities existing among the members of both organizations  were highlighted, as well as the need to coordinate work programmes in order to avoid the duplication of efforts and to seek synergy, especially in creating the STZC.

The following agreements and conclusions were reached in the area of Sustainable Tourism:  

1)      The ACS Secretariat would serve as a liaison in the convening of a coordination meeting of the relevant tourist entities in the Greater Caribbean, firstly, CAN, CARICOM, SELA, SICA and the CTO, for the purpose of coordinating the work of these organizations in the field of Sustainable Tourism. It was also suggested that said meeting be held before the close of this year.

2)      Urge the CARICOM Secretariat, SICA and the CTO to attend the Meeting of the Special Committee on Sustainable Tourism that will take place in Panama City, Panama, on June 1-2, 2001, during which the final version of the legally binding instrument to establish the Sustainable Tourism Zone of the Caribbean will be drafted.

3)      The CARICOM Secretariat would seek to make the necessary arrangements to allow for a discussion at the CARICOM Tourism Summit of the legal document that would establish the Sustainable Tourism Zone of the Caribbean. 

The CTO representative asked to participate in the project proposal to create the Integrated Information System of the Greater Caribbean, especially in light of the possible similarities with the Tourist Information Programme being developed by the CTO. This request was welcomed by the participants. However, given that the proposal is in an advanced stage of development, the need was expressed for the CTO’s participation to be adjusted to the resolutions already defined in the proposal. For such purposes, the CTO will provide the ACS Secretariat with information describing the characteristics of the system that it plans to develop.

Date, Venue and Preliminary Agenda of the Third Inter-Secretariat Meeting on Inter-Institutional Co-operation in the Greater Caribbean

It was agreed that the 3^rd Inter-Secretariat Meeting on Inter-Institutional Co-operation in the Greater Caribbean would take place in February 2002; the venue, date and agenda will be determined following consultations between the ACS Secretariat and the Secretariats of the Founding Observers.