Rubio at CARICOM

Speaking at the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of the Caribbean Community, or CARICOM, Heads of Government, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is “interested in rebuilding and constructing a new dynamic in this Western Hemisphere in which we partner with all of you on the issues we share in.” The meeting took place in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis on February 25.

Participants in the meeting included Prime Minister Terrance Drew of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda, Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, President Irfaan Ali of Guyana, Prime Minister John Briceño of Belize, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre of Saint Lucia, Prime Minister Philip Davis of The Bahamas, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell of Grenada, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé of Haiti, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago, President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons of Suriname, and Prime Minister Godwin Friday of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

“We believe that perhaps the most urgent security threat in the region – that includes us, but obviously all of you – is the threat of these transnational criminal organizations,” Secretary Rubio told the Caribbean leaders present. “Our cooperation will have to grow even deeper and our commitment to it will have to grow even stronger because these groups grow stronger,” he warned.

The Secretary also noted that there are extraordinary opportunities for economic advancement, to work together on issues like energy. “Energy is critical for the future; it’s critical for every economy in order to prosper,” he said.

“Many of the countries represented here today have energy resources that I know you seek to explore responsibly, safely, but in a way that generates wealth and prosperity for your people and your countries,” he added, “and we want to be your partner in that regard.”

“I will tell you this without any apology or without any apprehension, “said Secretary Rubio, “Venezuela is better off today than it was eight weeks ago.” He noted that “the progress being made there is substantial, and there’s a long way to go.” The secretary pointed out that authorities “have released political prisoners; they have closed Helicoide, which is their most infamous prison of all. They are, for the first time in a long time, generating oil revenue that’s going to the benefit of their people.”

Broad stability of the region is major U.S. priority. “Here’s the bottom line,” said Secretary Rubio, “the stronger, the safer, the more prosperous, and the more secure that all of your counties are, the stronger, safer, more secure, and prosperous the United States is going to be.”