User:CaribDigita/temp/Caribbean-China relations

Is the Caribbean getting involved too?

Hi, has anyone seen any documents mentioning the Caribbean region??? I have some coincidences listed below.

• 1994: The Most Developed Countries (MDCs) of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) announced their intention of joining NAFTA.

Ref:

• Periodic Note: CARICOM
• BANANAS, NAFTA, FTAA ON CARIBBEAN AGENDA
• Globalization and Neoliberalism: The Caribbean Context
• CARICOM AND NAFTA
• The 1994 Communique of the CARICOM Heads of Government on NAFTA entry.

• 1994/1995: Some time passes after Barbados was said to have urged Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago not to join NAFTA citing it would erode the market share of the Less Developed Countries (LDCs) in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

• 1997: The Caribbean countries have heated exchanges between one another over the Partnership for Prosperity and Security in the Caribbean (also called the "Shipriders Agreement") with the United States. The agreement allows U.S. forces the right to enter the territorial waters of Caribbean countries (which have signed on to the agreement) during drug interdictions at sea. Jamaica and Barbados arguably slam other Caribbean countries for signing onto the agreement so quickly.

Ref:

• Synopsis of the agreement.

• 1997: Bill Clinton meets with CARICOM heads of Government in Barbados to end disputes over agreement.

Ref:

• Communique of the CARICOM Heads of Government on the Partnership for Prosperity and Security in the Caribbean
• OAS document on the Partnership for Prosperity and Security in the Caribbean | Caribbean/United States Summit, Bridgetown Barbados 10 May 97

• 2000-2004: The Bush Administration starts referring to the Caribbean region as "America's Third Border."

Ref:

• US White House Press Release -- Fact Sheet: Caribbean Third Border Initiative
• Washington Post - On the Caribbean, 20/20 Blindness
• US State Dept. - A Prosperous Third Border
• http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2004/28136.htm US State Dept. - Joint Statement by the United States of America, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Dominican Republic on the Third Border Initiative]

• 2003: Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister is designated as the CARICOM-leader in charge of Crime and Security.

Ref:

• Crime and Security on CARICOM Agenda

• 2003: CARICOM heads of Government hold first meeting with Bush.

Ref:

• Caricom heads in frank talks at Bush breakfast

• 2004-2006: Officials in CARICOM start talking about the Caribbean region switching to the U.S. dollar as part of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Ref.

• Towards one Caricom currency
• A BCCI View – A common Caricom currency?

• 2005-2007: CARICOM countries prepare for the Cricket World Cup (CWC) which will be held in the Caribbean in 2007.. To meet the threat of terrorism the states moot talk of a "No-Fly list" of sorts. It lists the United States, Canada, INTERPOL and the EU among others as partners. It later becomes known as the unit "IMPACS" (The Caricom--Implementation Agency for Crime and Security)

Ref:

• Organisation website
• The Nation Newspaper | Joint security a CWC legacy

• 2003: Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister is designated as the CARICOM-leader in charge of Crime and Security.

Ref:

• Crime and Security on CARICOM Agenda

• Jun-2006: G.W. Bush signs a proclamation declaring the month of June as "Caribbean-American Heritage Month".

Ref:

• CaribbeanAmericanMonth.org - website
• US White House Press Release -- Caribbean-American Heritage Month, in 2006

• Oct-2006: Trinidad PM holds "bilateral" talks with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Ref:

• Photo at Whitehall, Trinidad

• Jul-2007: Canadian Prime Minister meets with the CARICOM heads of government.

Ref:

• Prime Minister Harper urges CARICOM nations to embrace free trade as the path to prosperity
• Canada, Caricom working on new economic pact

• Jul-2007: G.W. Bush meets with the CARICOM heads of government.

Ref:

• Heads of CARICOM States meets President George Bush to strengthen ties in the region

• Oct-2007: Reports surface that the unit known as "IMPACS" (The Caricom--Implementation Agency for Crime and Security) was never closed following CWC.

Ref:

• Caricom passenger system on track

• OCT-2007: Trinidad and Tobago's PM -- The CARICOM leader incharge of Crime and Security: meets with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Energy (DOE) again.

Ref:

• Manning meets with US Homeland Security

• Oct-2007: CARICOM informed the U.S. Congressional Judicial Subcommittee that CARICOM region is first region in the world to effect real time vetting of persons across its borders.

• Caricom passenger system on track

• Oct-2007: The Southern CARICOM states of Guyana and Suriname report USA is looking at placing a military "testing" facility in their territory.

Ref:

• US proposes military test site in Suriname
• On Venezuela's Doorstep: US proposes military test site in Suriname
• Gates Says US Aid Not Linked to Need for New Latin America Base

• Nov-2007: New Foreign Minister of Canada explains new role of Canada in the Eastern Caribbean. Touches on importance of Canada staying involved in CARICOM's security.

Ref:

• Man with golden touch
• The Regional Security System - founded by the USA, and now partly sponsored by Canadian Gov't.

• Nov-2007: CARICOM heads meet with US Congress.

Ref:

• US Congress to meet with CARICOM - CBC.bb

CaribDigita ( talk) 06:28, 23 December 2007 (UTC)