Brazilian President Urges Closer Collaboration With CARICOM

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Brazilian  President, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, Wednesday called for greater collaboration between his country and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) saying it was necessary to revamp the old policies where the south American country had placed more emphasis on relationships with the richer developed nations.

Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, watched by CARICOM Chairman, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, as he addresses CARICOM leaders (DPI Photo)He said that Brazil had developed this idea that it could have gotten the rich countries to invest in the country.

“But in 2003 when I took office we made a decision to prioritise our relationship with the countries of South America, Latin America and the countries that are members of CARICOM and the African continent,” he said in an address to the CARICOM leaders on the final day of their four day summit.

He said it was important to remember that Brazil had in the past embassies and resident diplomats in all  CARICOM countries “and we learnt a lesson with all of this in that the similarities that we have taking account of the realities of our countries helps us much more than to rely simply on the aid coming from our former colonisers.

“And so that’s why I am so happy to be back here in Guyana and to participate in the 46th conference of heads of government in the Caribbean Community.

He recalled attending a CARICOM summit in 2005 and becoming the first head of state from Brazil to address the summit and in 2010 hosted the first Brazil CARICOM summit.

“”We are aware of many problems facing the region. Food insecurity, which according to the World Food programme, affects half of the Caribbean population and climate change which jeopardises the whole climate, especially island countries.

“I want to stress that these two problems are at the core of the discussions carried out by Brazil in international for a. I also wish to emphasize  that those two problems have the same root of inequality.

He said therefore the fight against inequality in the world is also a fight for the Caribbean people, adding “it is not possible that ina  planet that produces enough food to feed the whole world population, around 735 million people do not have  a lot to eat.

“It is not possible that rich countries which bear the main responsibility for the climate crisis continue to  fall short of the commitment to dedicate US$100 billion to developing countries for climate action,” Lula said.

He told the CARICOM leaders it is not possible that the world spend 2.2 trillion US dollars  annually on weapons, adding “we all know that war leads to destruction, suffering and death, affecting above all, innocent civilians.

“Brazil will continue to fight for world peace. A war in distant Ukraine affects the whole planet because it raises the price of food and fertilizers.

“A genocide in Gaza affects all humankind because it outs into question our very sense of humanity and it collaborates once more the preferred choice for military spending over investments in the fight against hunger, in Palestine, Africa, South America or the Caribbean.”

Lula said  he heard from the Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley that her island had in excess of 20 flights weekly o the United States, but none to Brazil .

“Our biggest obstacle is the lack of connection whether by land, sea or air . One of the priorities for integration and development routes is the Guiana Shield which covers Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela.

“We literally want to pave our way to the Caribbean. We will open corridors capable of meeting supply demands and strengthen food security in the region,” he said, adding that Brazil can offer food stuff at competitive prices.

“But it can also help improve local agricultural productivity. I invite for that reason CARICOM countries to join the global alliance against hunger and poverty that will be launched by the Brazilian G20 chairmanship,” he said, adding that Brazil was looking to promote public policy for this cause.

We see the bloc [CARICOM] as a promising economic partner and a strategic interlocutor,” President Lula said.

He said the creation of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP 28 in Dubai was a historic achievement, warning however that the “fight will not end until there are more funds in the adaptation and implementation of the 2030 agenda as a whole”.

He said as the host of COP 30, Brazil wants to work with Small island Developing  States (SIDS) and “need to join forces to move forward in our mission of 1.5 degrees, accelerating the implementation of commitments  already made and adopting more ambitious goals in 2025”.

Earlier, the CARICOM chairman and host, President Dr. irfaan Ali said “through regular dialogue and strong projects, we can forge mutually-beneficial partnerships,” noting that the last Brazil- CARICOM summit was held 14 years ago.

Ali announced that the CARICOM- Brazil Joint Commission for strategic discussions will be operationalised this year, sayin “if momentum is sustained, Brazil and CARICOM stand to benefit enormously.

“CARICOM and Brazil share a rich history of south-south cooperation.  We are united not only by geography but also by our common desire to build a prosperous, peaceful and sustainable future for our people,”  Ali said.