By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie emphasised protecting the Caribbean’s “fragile environment” and addressing illegal immigration throughout the Caribbean region during his speech on the opening day of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) Summit in Havana, Cuba yesterday.

The Summit, which ends today, is the second of its kind and its slogan is “the fight against hunger, poverty and inequality”.

“The Bahamas is pleased to be a part of this forum,” Mr Christie told an audience of regional heads, adding: “We eschew any rigid ideological orthodoxy in favour of a practical foreign policy: one which seeks to be friends to all who would be friends with us, with a shared set of goals and common human values. We have called it in another forum “functional cooperation.”

He said: “We come here as part of the Caricom context. In that context, we seek to bring attention to the vulnerabilities of small island developing states.

“The issue of climate change is front and centre for all us. The Bahamas is vulnerable to storms and floods, being low-lying islands. In the southern Caribbean, the island nations of St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia and Dominica, there was great devastation and loss of life with the serious flooding that occurred in those countries just before Christmas.

“By one estimate, in the space of five hours, St. Vincent lost 15 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP). How does a country withstand such a shock? What responsibilities do we have to respond to such emergencies?”

While discussing issues of regional significance is important, Mr Christie said leaders from the region must make sure that what ever is done is “backed by sound economic policies”.

And as for the issue of immigration, Mr Christie said: “This is perhaps the most vexing issue which faces The Bahamas with its neighbours. The solutions are not unilateral. We, in the receiving state, see our resources being sorely taxed by this issue.

“We believe that the sending states have an obligation to ensure that there is not unregulated migration from their borders and will be working aggressively to pursue agreements by which states recognise that this is for the good of all and necessary to a sustainable and secure future.”