WASHINGTON, Oct 3, CMC – The United States says it will provide two million US dollars to the Caribbean Energy Security Initiative (CESI) to identify projects aimed at strengthening and promoting mutual interests to pursue “a shared vision of a secure, prosperous and democratic Western Hemisphere together”.
A US Department of State statement, said that Washington and Caribbean Community (CARICOM) officials met here last week and have resolved to strengthen their engagement and work together to protect the region.
It said that the meeting took place on the sidelines of the just-concluded 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that was attended by several regional leaders and foreign ministers.
The State Department said that Deputy US Secretary of State John J. Sullivan hosted the meeting which was attended by Bahamas Foreign Minister, Darren Henfield, as head of CARICOM’s Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR), and CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque.
It said that in furtherance their objective to strengthen their engagement, Sullivan announced that two million dollars would be allocated to the Caribbean Energy Security Initiative to identify projects, “where US development finance can spur private sector investment throughout the Caribbean energy sector.
“The United States and the CARICOM Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to forging stronger bonds in security, diplomacy, prosperity, energy, education, and health, which comprise the six pillars of Caribbean 2020, the comprehensive roadmap for US-Caribbean engagement,” the statement said.
It said both sides focused on ways to enhance cooperation and increase partnerships.
Topics included expanding economic prosperity and energy security, combatting transnational criminal organizations, improving citizen security, and supporting emergency response and preparedness for natural disasters.
