The VIII Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) began this Friday in the Caribbean archipelago of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, in an event marked by the presence of leaders of the Latin American left including Lula da Silva from Brazil; Maduro from Venezuela and Petro from Colombia.

Coordinator for the Interim President of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Douglas Slater, opened the ceremony, accompanied by host Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, highlighting the idyllic setting of the small Caribbean country – a hotel complex nestled in the hills and facing the sea, where the summit is taking place, bringing together 33 members with the goal of achieving effective regional integration in a region marked by the diversity of countries.

The term of office of the President of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is coming to an end. the mandate is transferred to Honduras, A representative of Central American President Xiomara Castro is present at the summit.

During the meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Kaisal Peters, presented a report on the achievements made during her presidency, which addresses key issues such as attempt to promote regional integration.

You might be interested > Climate change is altering river flows in Europe, Russia and America and threatening water security.

“The debate about the type of Celac structure for the future of this regional mechanism will continue,” said Peters, for whom “it is clear that the current structure has its limits and a number of countries have mobilized for change.” but there are other members who have similarly asked to maintain the current system, so that there are pros and cons, to “consolidate this integration mechanism.”

One of the most recurring requests creation of the General Secretariat better coordinate the work of Selak and ensure continuity of the work of subsequent presidents.

Another aspect that the Chancellor touched upon in her report was propaganda recovery from the effects of the coronavirus pandemicThis task is complicated by the global impact of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, which are causing inflation and increasing poverty and inequality in the region.

In this sense, they contributed food security and poverty eradication plansand a regional health program for drug research, development, production and distribution.

You might be interested > Uruguay convicts a minor for femicide for the first time

He also expressed concern about climate change impacts and environmental sustainabilitya situation that leaves countries in the region “vulnerable” to natural disasters, especially in island states such as St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The meeting of heads of state and government of Latin America and the Caribbean ends this Friday. Eight presidents are taking part in the event, all of them on the left, which shows fragmentation of regional organization which does not involve centrist or right-wing leaders such as Javier Miley (Argentina), Daniel Noboa (Ecuador), Santiago Peña (Paraguay) or Luis Lacalle Pou (Uruguay).

EFE