Jamaica’s Finance Minister Dr. Peter Phillips
Washington—Jamaica’s Finance Minister Dr. Peter Phillips says that the Caribbean continues to feel the impact of the global economic crisis, which is impeding its capacity to grow.
Phillips said he welcomes the opportunity for the Caribbean to engage with the powerful G20 countries to highlight and address some of the peculiar challenges that are impeding their progress.
“This first contact, I think, is important and it will be the first of a number of contacts. We are grateful to the Turkish authorities, who are President of the G20 this year and the Chinese, who will preside next year. During these engagements, we’ll have to collaborate with the G20 to examine some practical solutions to the issues facing the Caribbean,” Phillips said as he addressed the first Caribbean Regional Dialogue with members of the G20 Development Working Group earlier this week.
“We should also be grateful to the Trinidadian authorities, who took an active part on behalf of the Caribbean in this regard. This dialogue will continue and there are specific areas in which practical solutions can be brought to the table to benefit the Caribbean,” he added.
The meeting on Monday formed part of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings now underway. The meeting will end on Sunday, and while in Washington Phillips will meet with representatives of the IMF, World Bank, and the US Treasury.
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