The CARICOM and Commonwealth Secretariats signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further strengthen cooperation between the two Organisations.

CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque and Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland signed the MOU, which will facilitate joint implementation of programmes and projects while harnessing the experience and resources of the two Organisations, at a ceremony at the Pegasus in Georgetown, Guyana, yesterday.

The MOU will build on areas of interest agreed to in an earlier MOU, signed in 1996.

The areas of cooperation will include:

The economy – supporting more inclusive economic growth and sustainable development;

Climate Change – strengthening the resilience of small and other vulnerable states, including adaptation and mitigation against climate change;

Justice Reform – promoting more effective, efficient and equitable public governance;

Crime and Security – promoting the development and implementation of programmes aimed at combatting crime and enhancing citizen secure; and

Youth, Sports and Gender – promoting increased youth development through education and employment and develop programmes to promote sports and women’s rights.