Remarks by Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch
Presentation of Credentials to CARICOM
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
His Excellency, the CARICOM Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque,
His Excellency, the CARICOM Assistant Secretary General for Foreign and Community Relations, Ambassador Colin Granderson,
Distinguished Members of the CARICOM Secretariat,
Honored Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am honored to serve as the United States’ Plenipotentiary Representative to the Caribbean Community.
The United States shares with you a vision of the Caribbean Community that is integrated, inclusive, and driven by excellence. We, too, see a community that is an innovative and competitive force in the world’s economy. We also envision a populace in which every citizen has the opportunity to realize their potential, and contribute to economic, social, and cultural prosperity for themselves and for their society.
Since CARICOM was founded, the United States has supported its efforts to promote economic integration, coordinate foreign policies, and facilitate social development among its member states. This organization has successfully dismantled barriers to fair trade, and has created the formidable Caribbean Court of Justice. It has impressively coordinated collective approaches to education, public health, disaster response, and development financing.
The United States is proud to continue to support the work of CARICOM. Not only do we share a common commitment to democratic values and multi-cultural connections, we also share a common goal of achieving social justice, prosperity, and security for the people of our countries.
The U.S. Caribbean 2020 strategy provides a framework for focusing U.S. interagency efforts on security, diplomacy, prosperity, energy, education, and health. This coordinated strategy works in partnership with Caribbean governments to strengthen our mutual national security and advance the safety of our citizens. For example, we have collaborated through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) to boost the capabilities of Caribbean law enforcement and security forces to protect their shores and deter violent crime. U.S. assistance has helped to strengthen regional security systems, reduce the rate of organized crime, and curb illicit narcotics and weapons trafficking. Taking a broader look at safety and security, our development assistance has built schools and medical facilities, supported agricultural diversification, and strengthened judicial systems.
We also support and encourage the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) to create a single economic space within the Caribbean. With this economic integration, we have already seen new opportunities to attract investment and increase economies of scale. We expect to witness an even greater boost in trade, as well as an increased respect for intellectual property rights and consumer protection regulations.
As the U.S. Representative to the Caribbean Community, I want to build on these significant accomplishments, and continue our collective progress toward economic integration and full regional security.
I look forward to close collaboration with CARICOM, as we work toward the shared goal of a democratic, secure, and prosperous Caribbean.
