An alliance of Caribbean Diaspora community, religious and business leaders met with representatives of the Trump administration this week to provide input on the future of relations with the Caribbean and the overall role of the Diaspora.
The meeting follows on talks held last month to identify a mechanism to provide ongoing consultations between the Administration and the Caribbean Diaspora.
At the center of the discussions is the United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016 which was signed last December by President Barack Obama. This legislation provides for the identification and implementation of specific initiatives and programs to enhance America’s relations with the Caribbean at both the multilateral and bilateral levels.
The Act identifies nine broad areas which the US State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are mandated to address and to provide recommendations and a proposed plan of action to the US Congress by June this year. The white paper that is expected to form the basis for Wednesday’s consultations, addresses the nine issues and received input from diaspora leaders across the United States representing organizations with members from across the Caribbean.
The meeting is expected to address issues under three broad themes-diplomacy and security; economic development; and education and health.
US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs will lead the US discussion with an overview of current US Engagement with the Caribbean. Guyana’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Riyad Insanally, who is also the current chair of the Caribbean Caucus of Ambassadors will deliver opening remarks at the meeting.
