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The June 10-12 Forum, with the theme "The Caribbean American Relationship in this Era of Change", organized by Florida's Caribbean Sun, with sponsorship from a wide range of Caribbean businesses, examined trade, investment, social and other issues against the backdrop of the current global recession..
Delegates committed to preparing a follow-up Plan to pursue the many recommendations emerging from the Conference and will circulate their report to Caribbean governments, the US administration as well as Caribbean and American business organizations, and the CARICOM Secretariat.
The Expo and Conference heard from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, James Goggin, Chief of Staff of the Office of Orange County Mayor, George Rodon, former US Ambassador Harriet Elam Thomas as well as representatives from the Florida Governor's Office and the University of the West Indies (UWI).
Goggin, speaking on behalf of Acting Administrator of USAID, Alonzo Fulgham, told the opening ceremony that the US will provide stepped up financial assistance for education programs, focusing on youth in an effort to address violence in the Caribbean, which he identified as the number one social problem in the region.
He also highlighted the negative effects of crime on business, tourism and attracting foreign investment.
In addition, Goggin noted that US and Caribbean security officials will be meeting within the next month to start working out the framework for increased cooperation on security.
He also announced that the US administration will be making available funds for small businesses in the region.
Ambassador Thomas advised that the region should adopt a unified approach to the US Government and seek to engage senior officials of the Barack Obama administration.
Participants at the Forum heard from the US Customs officials who emphasized the need for training in the region in certification in order to comply with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.
US Shipping officials highlighted the challenges they face in terms of screening containers from the Caribbean for drugs and the exorbitant costs involved.
The Business Forum heard calls for USAID to provide funding for regional organizations such as the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), in particular its Special Development Fund (SDF), Caribbean Export and the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC).
Both panelists and participants were harshly critical over the pace of regional integration and the delay in the full implementation of programs announced by CARICOM leaders, including the Caribbean Court of Justice and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). The Caribbean Diaspora urged that the CARICOM Heads of Government, at their annual meeting in Guyana next month, send a strong signal that they will "put their house in order" to take advantage of the new opportunities presented by the Obama administration.
The Forum identified a number of impediments to doing business in the Caribbean, especially the length of time it takes to gain approval for various permits.
The Trinidad and Tobago-based Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), updated participants on developments to reinvigorate the region's agricultural sector and the drive to attract investment for agricultural development, including several new initiatives to grow exports to the US market.
There were spirited exchanges over the issue of criminal deportees to the Caribbean and its impact on crime in the region. The Conference called on the US administration to revisit its policy on notification to regional governments and to ensure that assistance is available for rehabilitation programs for deportees.
The Action Plan, to be put together within the next few weeks by a Conference Committee, will include plans to lobby the US administration, including Congress, on the deportees issue.
The Caribbean-American Business Expo and Conference, which commemorated the observance of Caribbean-American Heritage month, is the brainchild of Wesley Kirton, CEO of Florida Caribbean Enterprises Inc, which publishes Florida's Caribbean Sun.
Kirton was named Executive Director of the new US-Caribbean Basin Business Resource Network, which will focus on improving business conditions for Small and Medium-sized Businesses (SMEs) and engage in advocacy, among other things.
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