[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
[June 20, 2007]
[Pages 779-780]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Joint Statement on the Conference on the Caribbean
June 20, 2007

    1. We, the Heads of State and Government of the United States of 
America and of the Caribbean Community Nations of Antigua and Barbuda, 
The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, 
Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the 
Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago, meeting in Washington 
D.C. on June 20, 2007, reaffirm our unequivocal commitment to a secure 
and prosperous region and future for the benefit of all of our citizens.
    2. Recalling our shared history of democracy, respect for human 
rights, social justice, and cultural and ethnic diversity, we highlight 
the value of our enduring friendship and recommit ourselves to enhancing 
our partnership to reinforce the development aspirations that guide our 
mutual priorities.
    3. We pledge to continue promoting the consolidation of democratic 
norms, values, and institutions throughout the hemisphere and to enhance 
accountability and respect for individual rights.
    4. We agree to take steps to expand economic opportunities for our 
people, to address the threats of terrorism and crime, and to provide 
the benefits of democracy to all members of our societies, recognizing 
that democracy will best flourish if our societies are stable and our 
economies are prosperous.
    5. We recognize the establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and 
Economy as a critical element of the growth and development strategy of 
the Caribbean Community.
    6. We are determined to strengthen our existing trade arrangements. 
We acknowledge President Bush's announcement to work with Congress to 
extend and update the Caribbean Basin Trade Promotion Act and the 1991 
Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. We further commit to the 
harmonization of customs procedures consistent with global standards and 
the advancement of technical trade cooperation.
    7. We reiterate our support for Caribbean efforts to expand the 
services sector, and encourage a focus on the international financial 
services sector to facilitate a competitive means of economic 
diversification while remaining committed to the maintenance of 
appropriate regulatory and supervisory practices, consistent with the 
highest international standards.
    8. Cognizant of the spread of HIV and AIDS and the impact on the 
economic and social development of our people, we pledge to deepen our 
cooperation in health

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and welcome the initiative to continue PEPFAR in the Caribbean.
    9. Cognizant that more than 95 percent of CARICOM's energy needs are 
derived from fossil fuels, we pledge to increase cooperation in this 
area to achieve sustainable, secure, and affordable access to energy for 
all our citizens.
    10. We agree to increase cooperation efforts in the field of 
education and workplace training. We commit to strengthen teacher 
training by expanding the Caribbean Centers for Excellence. We also 
commit to strengthen human capacity in the Caribbean to meet the demands 
of a 21st century employment environment through partnering with 
academic institutions and non-governmental groups as well as through 
skills training for youth via the Entra-21 program.
    11. We declare our intention to negotiate an agreement on 
cooperation in Science and Technology including Information 
Communication Technologies.
    12. We recommit to our ongoing efforts of cooperation in the area of 
disaster preparedness, mitigation, and recovery.
    13. We acknowledge the multidimensional nature of the security 
threats and challenges faced by our countries and pledge to continue to 
work together in the fight against terrorism, trafficking in persons, 
drugs and small arms, and transnational crime.
    14. We also acknowledge the successful security partnership 
developed to secure the CARICOM Region during its hosting of the Cricket 
World Cup 2007. To this end, we agree to continue strengthening the 
Region's security infrastructure.
    15. We recognize the need to work more closely on immigration 
security issues in a manner respectful of national laws and government 
services capacity and sensitive to the effects of human displacement. We 
will jointly work toward the expansion of the pilot reintegration 
program for deportees in Haiti to include other CARICOM member states. 
We will develop new ways to facilitate, coordinate, and communicate 
between our immigration services.
    16. We are heartened by the substantial progress in Haiti made by 
the Government of President Preval, with 
the support of international partners. We recognize that Haiti will 
continue to require substantial regional and international support in 
the implementation of a consistent and long-term strategy of institution 
and capacity building, and pledge to work together with the three 
branches of the Haitian Government.
    17. On the occasion of Caribbean-American Heritage Month, we pay 
tribute to the generations of Caribbean-Americans who have helped shape 
the spirit and character of the United States of America and who 
continue to contribute to the growth and development of the Caribbean.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this joint statement.