Kingstown, March 1, 2024.- The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) participated in a meeting with regional Secretariats this Friday, within the framework of the VIII Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), held in Kingstown, capital city of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The meeting – which was focused on social inclusion and the integration of peoples – was attended by the secretaries of: ALBA-TCP, Jorge Arreaza; the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA), Clarems Endara; the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), Sergio Abreu; the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Carla Barnett; the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), Rodolfo Sabonge; the Andean Community (CAN), Gonzalo Gutierrez; and the Central American Integration System (SICA), Ingrid Figueroa.
During his speech, ACS Secretary Rodolfo Sabongestated that connectivity is a key issue for progress in the development of ALBA member countries and other multilateral organizations in the region.
“In this fourth industrial revolution, beyond a technology platform for our communication, we need to take a step forward in knowledge and in the implementation of these tools (such as AI),” he said.
Sabonge stressed that, within the context of CELAC, it is important to promote mechanisms to help reduce the effects of climate change.
Meanwhile, the ALBA-TCP Executive Secretary, Jorge Arreaza, emphasized that social inclusion is fundamental for this international mechanism, as well as health and literacy programs.
He highlighted that it is necessary to continue promoting programs such as Misión Milagro, as a social mechanismto provide eye care to thousands of people in the region.
Likewise, he mentioned that physical and digital connectivity topics are essential. “Regarding the artificial intelligence (AI) subject, as far as CELAC is concerned, our support should lead to a discussion on a code of ethics, so that artificial intelligence does not sweep away the processes of mankind”, added the ALBA Executive Secretary.
Arreaza recalled during the meeting that there are seven Caribbean Island countries and three mainland countries in ALBA, and out of those seven, six are CARICOMmembers.
Additionally, Arreaza invited the Secretary of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Didacus Jules, to join ALBA.
Joint Statement
The heads of the secretariats of the regional and integration organizations ALADI, CARICOM, ALBA-TCP, AEC, SICA, SELA and CAN, as guests at the VIII CELACSummit, committed, through a joint statement, to work on a cooperation agenda to promote regional integration.
In said statement, dated March 1, 2024, they agreed to work together to continue promoting the development of Latin America and the Caribbean.
They also expressed their commitment to increase exchanges in social, economic, social and cultural matters. Ensuring food security, as well as developing digital and security programs, are also part of the common agenda for the benefit of the peoples.
