Antilles won’t benefit from
unified Caribbean economy
WILLEMSTAD--State Secretary of Finance Alex Rosaria believes that it will not be to the benefit of the Netherlands Antilles if it unified its economy with that of other Caribbean countries. “We are a free country that has to remain free to sign treaties with any country we want to,” Rosaria said.
He made his statements in light of Caribbean Community Caricom Secretary General Edwin Carrington’s visit in the Netherlands Antilles starting today. Carrington will meet with the Council of Ministers. Carrington has a busy agenda for his two-day visit.
He will give a lecture at the University of the Netherlands Antilles UNA on the unification of the Caribbean. And, on Friday, he will be the guest speaker at a mini symposium focussing on a private sector point of view for input on government’s approach to Caricom and being organised by the Central Bank.
The Central Government considers Carrington’s visit an important step in the evaluation process for the Netherlands Antilles to obtain the status of observer within the Caricom, Rosaria said.
The intention is for the Antilles, at a later stage, to become an associated member. Rosaria believes that an associated status will be to the benefit of the “open regional strategy” the Central Government maintains.
“This way we can choose globally and regionally with whom we enter into treaties. In time, we want to strengthen ties of Cooperation with Caricom in areas such as public health, social development, education, sport and culture,” he said.
