PM Spencer Leads Antigua and Barbuda Delegation to First CARICOM – Brazil Summit

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – April 26, 2010…….Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. W. Baldwin Spencer is today leading a five member delegation to Brasilia, Brazil for the First CARICOM-Brazil Summit which will discuss among other issues cooperation in Agriculture, Fisheries, Health, Education and Training, Energy, the reconstruction and development of Haiti, Climate Change, Tourism and Financial Services.

The Prime Minister’s delegation comprises Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to Brazil Her Excellency Joan Underwood, Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the OAS Deborah-Mae Lovell, Trade Coordinator Ambassador Dr. Clarence Henry and General Manager of the Antigua and Barbuda Development Bank Mr. Donald Charles.

“At this meeting CARICOM intends to establish a formal and structural relationship with Brazil. This meeting comes at an opportune time as Brazil enjoys significant influence in the region, Latin American and most importantly in the hemisphere where it has become a privileged interlocutor of the United States. So we intend to strengthen our relations with Brazil while at the same time increasing joint actions for our mutual benefit. Greater integration between CARICOM and Latin America can be forged at this meeting and at the same time we can achieve better levels of commercial, cultural, social and economic development,” said Prime Minister Spencer.

“On a personal level, Antigua and Barbuda will sign a visa-waiver agreement with Brazil which will exempt holders of Diplomatic and Official passports from requiring visas to enter Brazil. We will also sign an agreement for technical cooperation in Education and Sports. Since my administration came into office, we have been forging close relations which Brazil which has resulted in us establishing a Consulate in that country and Brazil establishing an Embassy here. We are very pleased with the progress of cooperation between our two countries,” said the country’s leader.

Against the backdrop of the region being adversely affected by the global financial and economic crisis, CARICOM will seek the support of Brazil in its lobby to reverse the graduation out of concessionary lending that took place as a result of the region’s changed per capita income status.

It is also anticipated that CARICOM will seek support for the execution of its public expenditure investment programmes, and also assistance in facilitating the revitalization of the private sector industries in the region, especially Agriculture, Energy, and Transportation, and in filling the economic activity gap being created by the fall-out that is occurring in the off-shore financial services sector following the implementation of the OECD tax standards.

CARICOM will also requests Brazil’s support in representing its views and advocating on behalf of the Community at the Meetings of the G 20.

Prime Minister Spencer returns to the country on Wednesday. Finance and Eocnomy Minister the Hon. Harold Lovell is the Acting Prime Minister.