Vice president Kamala Harris will hold discussions with Caribbean and Dominican leaders to discuss food, security, energy, climate change and economic prosperity in the aftermath of the covid 19 pandemic, White House confirmed. This is her first trip to the region since her new position.
Harris is planning to visit Nassan, Bahamas, and core-host along with Philip Davis, Bahama’s prime minister, a gathering of heads from the Dominican Republic and the 15 member Caribbean community, CARICON. The current chairman of CARICOM, Davis, has encouraged foreign engagements with Canada, US and United Kingdom.
The meeting in the Bahama’s with the intention to build on previous encounters the vice president has had with the leaders, including the ninth summit of the Americas in Los Angeles. A promise to “intensify” relations between the US and the Caribbean by the president Joe Biden, after he joined in on a discussion between the Caribbean leaders and Harris.
Harris taking the initiative and rolled out a “Caribbean climate partnership” to handle and overcome climate change and energy crisis. The aim is to assist Caribbean government to gain access to finance for clean – energy and climate project, and to help the transition from fossil fuels. Although certain members have informed the US administration that they are not ready for such a transition, given the abundance of natural gas and oil reserves in Guyana, Trinidad and Surinane.
Caribbean leaders informed during the summit of the Americas, there concerns and priorities post covid pandemic, leaving their economies rattled.
Review the progress and discuss the next step was initiated by Harris, along with a group of Caribbean leaders at the Blair House in Washington. Kirsten Allen, the Vice president’s press secretary said, those discussion will continue during the Bahama meeting by and the Caribbean leaders.
Biden- Harris administration’s, committed to shared prosperity and security and the common bonds and intentions between two nations, she informed.
Harris has proven “incredible personal relationship and time” in the relations between United State and the Caribbean regional bloc, informed Brian A. Nichols, the US assistant secretary of state for western hemisphere affairs.
Although much of Harris’ discussions are expected to concentrate on climate crisis and energy, there are worrying concerns that the Caribbean leaders have in mind, including the economic recovery of the tourism-dependent region from the pandemic, slowing growth and cornering countries to acquire more debt, along with illegal arms trafficking.
The US government accountability office arm, have been given written concerns by US law makers, including the chairman of the senate judiciary committee, requestion to investigate the consequences of US- Caribbean fire arms trafficking.
