Human prosperity, one of the three main issues addressed in the proposed Declaration of Port of Spain, was the main topic discussed during the meeting of the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG) held 18-19 September in Barbados.

The draft declaration under discussion, entitled “Ensuring the future of our citizens by promoting human prosperity, energy security and environmental sustainability” is the document that the Heads of State and Government will be signing at the Fifth Summit of the Americas, due to take place next April in Trinidad and Tobago.

The meeting reinforced the idea of agriculture and rural life as key factors for sustainable development and food security. “This idea was proposed and supported by Jamaica and Colombia and was included in paragraph 15 of the draft declaration,” said the Director of IICA’s Office of Follow-up to the Summit of the Americas Process, Bernardo Badani.

The declaration also reaffirms the political commitment to developing national and regional strategies for implementing the AGRO 2003-2015 Plan, a task that ministries of agriculture in the hemisphere carry out with support from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and other institutions.

During the event, representatives of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and IICA all made presentations on topics related to human prosperity.

Mr. Badani focused on the strategic issue of food security and also addressed the question of rising food prices and IICA’s response to the situation. “The presentation was well received. The Member States realize the importance of agriculture and rural life for sustainable development in view of the situation created by high food prices,” he said.

Before the hemispheric meeting that will bring together the Heads of State and Government of the Americas next April, the SIRG will be holding meetings in October, November and December of this year in Antigua and Barbuda, Washington and El Salvador, respectively, to put the finishing touches to the draft declaration.

There will also be dialogues with civil society and further interaction at the beginning of 2009. As an institutional partner in the Summit Process, the Institute has taken part in all the meetings of the SIRG and will continue to support the process, the IICA official said.

Barbados also hosted the meeting of the Joint Summit Working Group (JSWG) that took place on 18 September. The meeting was chaired by the Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Albert Ramdin.

At this second meeting, Badani explained the progress made and IICA’s participation in the Summit Process. He also stressed the need to generate mandates that could be implemented with the financial backing of international institutions and the countries themselves.

On the road to Jamaica 2009

The mandates issued at the Fifth Summit of the Americas will be discussed by the ministers during the Fifth Ministerial Meeting, due to take place next year in Jamaica, which is considered the most important hemispheric-level meeting on agriculture and rural life.

“The preparatory work for Jamaica has already begun. The countries continue to engage in dialogue, review documents and reach agreement on the schedules for the activities,” said Badani. Next week, during the 2008 Caribbean Week of Agriculture, a meeting will be held to prepare the final version the document “On the road to Jamaica 2009.”

During this operational meeting, the participants will also study a provisional schedule for the different phases of the ministerial process in 2009.