THE PERMANENT MISSION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS TO THE UNITED NATIONS
231 East 46th St. New York, NY 10017
Tel: (212) 421-6925 Fax: (212) 759-2135
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THE PERMANENT MISSION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS TO THE UNITED NATIONS231 East 46th St. New York, NY 10017 Tel: (212) 421-6925 Fax: (212) 759-2135
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The Caribbean Community consists of 14 Caribbean countries, which are pursuing the goal of comprehensive regional integration. To this end, CARICOM countries attempt to coordinate their foreign policies, to the extent possible, while taking into account distinct national interests. CARICOM coordination at the UN takes the form of regional positions on certain vital issues, joint statements, and bloc voting in UN elections when possible.
The Bahamas joined the Caribbean Community [CARICOM] on 4 July, 1983, and will celebrate 20 years of membership this year. The Bahamas is a member of the Community established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas, but is not a member of the Common Market established under the Annex to that Treaty. The Bahamas is an active participant in the Community, having Chaired the Conference of Heads of the Community on three occasions, July 1984 – June 1985, July 1 – December 31, 1993, and most recently from July 1 – December 31, 2001. The Bahamas has also chaired the Community Council of Ministers and the Council on Foreign and Community Relations.
The goals of the
Community, as set out in the Treaty of Chaguaramas, is to coordinate the foreign
policy of member states to the extent possible, while the Common Market
envisions comprehensive regional economic integration. The Treaty and its Annex have recently
undergone extensive revision, to bring about the establishment of the Caribbean
Single Market and Economy [CSME]. At
this stage, The Bahamas remains outside of the CSME, and is reviewing this
stance, with a view to determining whether The Bahamas would join the CSME in
the future. In addition to the CSME,
the issues of most importance economically to The Bahamas and the CARICOM as a
whole are the ongoing negotiations for the Free Trade Area of the Americas
[www.ftaa-alca.org ], which are
due to be completed in 2005, and the Economic Partnership Agreement with the
European Union. With respect to
FTAA negotiations, The Bahamas is an active participant in the Regional
Negotiating Machinery [ www.caribrnm.net
], which conducts the negotiations on behalf of the Region. Other regional initiatives
of importance to The Bahamas are the Caribbean Tourism Organisation [www.onecaribbean.org], the Community’s
pan-Caribbean Partnership on HIV/AIDS as well as the Caribbean Regional
Strategic Framework for HIV/AIDS 2002 – 2006.
Contacts for CARICOM Members States to the United Nations
Statements delivered at Meetings of CARICOM Member States:(Note: Adobe Acrobat reader is needed to view documents)
Statements delivered by Representatives of CARICOM Member States at the United Nations: (Listed by U.N.Committee)
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