Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told reporters Sunday she received overwhelming support from leaders at the 32nd Caricom Heads of Government Meeting in St Kitts and Nevis.
She made the comments shortly after arriving home from the meeting. She said there was positive and spontaneous responses to several initiatives she raised on issues such as youth development, food security, empowerment of women, inter-island transportation system and education.
The Prime Minister urged her Caricom counterparts to promote education from the earliest stages to ensure that the region has the best and brightest young people.
"I pointed out that there are some specific areas which the collective mind of Caricom should pursue since I believe these will impact most seriously on our people and their future wellbeing," she said.
She made the comments shortly after arriving home from the meeting. She said there was positive and spontaneous responses to several initiatives she raised on issues such as youth development, food security, empowerment of women, inter-island transportation system and education.
The Prime Minister urged her Caricom counterparts to promote education from the earliest stages to ensure that the region has the best and brightest young people.
"I pointed out that there are some specific areas which the collective mind of Caricom should pursue since I believe these will impact most seriously on our people and their future wellbeing," she said.
"Among these were making the Caricom region the first in the world to achieve universal early childhood education which is one of our major thrusts here in Trinidad and Tobago, addressing the challenge of the growing social dislocation of youth which is a global challenge and as well as increasing cynicism in the future."
She said she also talked about the need for more nurses and other medical personnel. The Prime Minister also confirmed that she signed an agreement which brings into force the Caribbean Public Health Agency, which will have its headquarters in Trinidad and Tobago.
She said she also talked about the need for more nurses and other medical personnel. The Prime Minister also confirmed that she signed an agreement which brings into force the Caribbean Public Health Agency, which will have its headquarters in Trinidad and Tobago.
"It is a major development in that it addresses the matter of health security in the region.
She noted that Caricom leaders agreed at their meeting in March 2010 to the creation of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CAPHA).
"CAPHA's purpose is to draw together and build on public health knowledge and expertise across the Caribbean. Thereby prevent duplication of effort and resources. This will facilitate a coordinated approach to public health issues including managing the risk of disease outbreaks in the region," she said.
She also discussed the lack of space on the UWI campus for law students, adding that she is thinking of a proposal that involve a partnership with the United Kingdom.
"Having completed the LLB, they cannot get into law school, again limited spaces. I raised it with the Heads.
She also discussed the lack of space on the UWI campus for law students, adding that she is thinking of a proposal that involve a partnership with the United Kingdom.
"Having completed the LLB, they cannot get into law school, again limited spaces. I raised it with the Heads.
"There is a 1970 treaty which restricted these law schools to the two we have here. Cave Hill and Hugh Wooding. That is 40 years old and what was relevant 40 years ago may not be relevant today because we need to train more lawyers. All the countries need to."
The Prime Minister also discussed regional food security with her Caricom partners.
The Prime Minister also discussed regional food security with her Caricom partners.
She said, "It is my view that it is now critical that the Faculty of Agriculture at UWI should dedicate itself to greater research and collaborate with world-renowned institutions like EMBAPA from Brazil in order to promote food security."
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