Policy paper

Action plan: Eleventh UK-Carribean Forum

Published 2 June 2023

This was published under the 2022 to 2024 Sunak Conservative government

At the conclusion of the 11th UK-Caribbean Forum, held in Kingston, Jamaica on 18 May 2023, the Foreign Ministers of the United Kingdom and Caribbean countries, in adopting the Joint Communiqué at the Forum, agreed on the following Action Plan for a two-year period up to 2025, with a review of progress in 2024 and immediately prior to the next Forum.

This Action Plan serves as a road map for the practical implementation of the Communiqué and sets out the enhanced commitments of both the United Kingdom (UK) and Caribbean countries for a renewed and strengthened partnership.

Ministers of the United Kingdom and Caribbean Governments agreed that:

• it is important to act together for the mutual benefit and global common good, based on shared values, at a time of unparalleled challenges, and that

• this Action Plan will be discussed at quarterly meetings between Caribbean High Commissioners based in London and the Minister for the Caribbean at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)

The Parties recognise that the value of the UK-Caribbean Forum lies in concrete and practical follow-up to commitments made at its meetings.

Sustainable and economic development

1. Trade in goods and services and investments

1.1 The UK and the Caribbean will work within the framework of the relevant institutions of the CARIFORUM-United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement to ensure that the commitments of the Parties to the Agreement are fully implemented, that appropriate steps are taken towards achieving its entry into force, and that the objectives and benefits of the Agreement are realised.

1.2 The UK will provide development assistance, including trade-related assistance and through information exchanges, to support the ability of CARIFORUM States to implement and take advantage of the opportunities presented by the CARIFORUM-UK EPA. Areas which may be prioritised for attention include addressing supply-side constraints which affect the ability of Caribbean States to convert market access into market presence, cooperation in relation to innovation, science and technology and technology transfer, diversification of CARIFORUM goods and services exports, improving the competitiveness of traditional agricultural products, and the impact of non-tariff barriers.

1.3 The UK and the Caribbean States which are signatories to the CARIFORUM-UK EPA will continue to make every effort to address challenges to the implementation of their respective commitments under the CF-UK EPA, including tariff, cooperation and exchange information commitments.

1.4 In recognition of the important role of the Joint CARIFORUM-UK Council to supervise the implementation and operation of the CARIFORUM-UK EPA, the UK and Caribbean States which are signatories to the EPA will work towards convening the inaugural meeting of the Joint Council during 2023. The Joint Council will have, as part of its agenda:

(a) the implementation of decisions emanating from the inaugural meeting of the Trade and Development Committee, held in October 2021; and

(b) constructive discussions and, where appropriate, decisions on, inter alia:

(i) the implementation of tariff elimination commitments

(ii) the progress made in relation to ratification of the Agreement

(iii) UK Development Co-operation support to the Caribbean Parties for regional and national level actions

(iv) impediments faced by Caribbean stakeholders in converting market access into market presence in the areas of trade in goods and trade in services

(v) the operationalisation of the cooperation provisions, including cooperation between the Parties in relation to innovation and technology transfer

(vi) modalities to facilitate further UK-Caribbean business engagements, including possibly through a Business Forum

(vii) the impact of the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement and the UK’s recent accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on the CF-UK EPA

The UK and the Caribbean countries which are signatories to the CARIFORUM-UK EPA agree to the expeditious establishment of the Special Committee on Trade in Services.

1.5 The UK will continue to partner with national and regional institutions including the CARIFORUM Directorate, CARICOM Secretariat and the Caribbean Export Development Agency to raise awareness on the opportunities and benefits of the EPA, including through workshops and connection of critical stakeholders. Both the UK and the Caribbean will promote EPA trade opportunities to increase UK-Caribbean trade.

1.6 The UK will host a jointly organised UK/Caribbean Business Forum in London with an aim to expand UK-Caribbean Trade and Investment. The Forum should convene prior to the 12th UK/Caribbean Forum in 2025.

1.7 The UK will consider the appointment of a UK Trade Envoy to the Caribbean to promote greater trade and investment.

2. Financing for development

2.1 The UK will continue its support of the Caribbean Development Bank’s Special Development Fund, for 2021 to 2024.

2.2 The UK will assist with the development and implementation of a Multi-dimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) and more appropriate economic indicators for SIDS. The UK will further use its position on various regional and international bodies to advocate for Caribbean countries in respect of economic classification (including graduation/differentiation) and the negative impact of de-risking and loss of correspondent banking relationships on their economies.

2.3 The UK will continue to champion reform of the international financial architecture to unlock greater levels of sustainable finance for developing and climate vulnerable countries, building on ambition set by the Bridgetown Initiative. This includes advocating a timeline for implementation for the G20’s Capital Adequacy Framework review to unlock more Multilateral Development Bank resources. Following on from UK-Export Finance (UKEF) announcement of the use of Climate Resilient Debt Clauses (CRDCs), the UK will continue to advocate both public and private sector lenders to offer these clauses in all future lending.

3. Climate change and the environment

3.1 The window of opportunity for effective climate and nature action to secure a sustainable and liveable future for all, in particular for Small Island Developing States (SIDs), is rapidly closing. The UK reaffirmed its commitment to leading and galvanising a collective global effort to keep the 1.5°C target alive, driving the action necessary to make urgent progress by 2030. Caribbean countries will continue to leverage their collective, influential ‘moral voice’ for climate action in order to press the biggest emitters to step up.

3.2 The UK will provide further support, through the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub, to assist with building institutional capacity for the assessment of multi-hazards, disaster risk management and response, development of policies, planning and investments, and project implementation to build resilience. The Parties agreed to facilitate the exchange of best practices in disaster risk management and disaster preparedness and response.

3.3 The UK will provide support through the ‘Small Island Developing State Capacity and Resilience’ (SIDAR) programme, to build capacity to access climate funding and technical solutions at scale. The UK will also support Jamaica as one of six global pioneer country trials under its Taskforce on Access to Climate Finance to deliver a new approach to climate finance access at both country and system level.

3.4 The UK will act as a progressive partner to strategic allies in establishing funding arrangements, as well as a dedicated Fund for loss and damage which can deliver for the most vulnerable, as agreed upon at COP27 in Egypt in 2022.  The UK will commit to support the operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund, agreed upon at COP27 in Egypt in 2022.  The Caribbean countries will continue to work with the UK to ensure the implementation of climate adaptation and mitigation actions, including through the provision of adequate and sustainable financing. Both Parties will work towards strengthening cooperation in the climate arena, including at the UN SIDS Summit in Antigua and Barbuda and at the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2024, as well as collaboration between institutions and centres for disaster risk reduction and resilience building on priority issues, including with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC).

3.5 The UK will continue to support the multi-donor Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) technical assistance facility hosted by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) to promote resilient, sustainable, and inclusive infrastructure in Caribbean Small Island Developing States. CDRI is also partnering with the Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment (CCRI) to improve investment decision making by identifying, pricing and managing the likely costs of physical climate risks upfront.

3.6 The UK will build on existing efforts to boost disaster risk financing strategies, arrangements and tools in the Caribbean to deal with range of disaster impacts including early warning, social protection and insurance such as new support for water utilities through our support for the Global Centre for Disaster protection and Global Risk Finance Facility (GRIF).

3.7 The UK will continue to provide financial and other assistance to protect and promote the sustainable management, conservation and restoration of mangrove habitats, fish hatcheries and coral reefs, in particular through initiatives such as the UK Blue Carbon Fund, Sustainable Blue Economies (SBE) Programme for SIDS, and the Blue Belt Programme (Overseas Territories).

3.8 The UK will continue to play a leading role in preparation of the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in 2024, and to work with SIDS and development partners at the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) to agree a new partnership on SIDS priorities ahead of the summit.

3.9 The UK and the Caribbean will continue to work together to advance rights and opportunities for women and girls, including adapting global evidence on what works to address gender-based violence, promoting women’s economic empowerment and sharing best practice and learning to ensure climate finance is gender-responsive.

4. Co-operation, including in health and education

Health

4.1 The UK and the Caribbean will collaborate internationally and engage with their respective healthcare bodies in the sharing of best practices and lessons learned for the promotion of health and wellness.

4.2 The UK will maintain its support to pandemic preparedness in the region through WHO/PAHO, as well as CDEMA (Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency) and CARPHA (Caribbean Public Health Agency), in accordance with a multi-hazard, multisectoral, and coordinated approach to preparedness for health emergencies in the Caribbean region, in particular the implementation of the International Health Regulations Core Capacities.

4.3 The UK and the Caribbean will continue to implement the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel to equitably strengthen health systems worldwide.

4.4 The UK will continue to promote and share lessons on the transformation to more climate smart and disaster resilient health care facilities in the Caribbean, building on the Caribbean ’SMART’ (safer and greener) initiative, the flagship infrastructure disaster risk reduction and environment protection programme by PAHO and the UK.

Education

4.5 The UK will continue to facilitate immigration policies to allow students to study in the UK. The UK will continue to offer its existing scholarship portfolio and provide educational opportunities for teacher/student exchanges and collaboration among educational institutions at the tertiary level to facilitate research and development and opportunities for scholars to work with their peers on priority issues of interest to the Caribbean and the UK.

4.6 The British Council will focus its work in the Caribbean region in supporting skills of young people in schools, on developing creative enterprise and in enabling up to 15,000 more people to gain UK professional and university qualifications up to 2024.

4.7 The UK and the Caribbean will strengthen efforts to build capacity to ensure equal access for all to all levels of education and vocational training to eliminate disparities in education between boys and girls through the sharing of knowledge and best practices, including building on the work completed on inclusive TVET through the UK-funded Skills for Youth Employment (SkYE) programme in the Eastern Caribbean.

Security and immigration

5. Country situations

5.1 The UK and the Caribbean resolve to encourage continued dialogue among Haitian stakeholders, CARICOM and the wider international community in support of efforts to achieving solutions to bring peace, stability and security in Haiti.

5.2 The UK commits to supporting the implementation of the judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case between Guatemala and Belize, including the border demarcation.

5.3 The UK commits to supporting the implementation of the judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case between Guyana and Venezuela, including the maintenance of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana.

6. Security and defence co-operation

6.1 Both Parties agree to continue collaboration in developing capacity of law enforcement and the criminal justice system, financial intelligence institutions and anti-corruption agencies, particularly in the areas of evidence-gathering, data-collection, analysis; and the use of modern law enforcement techniques, to enable more effective interdiction investigations and prosecutions of transnational organized crime. Additionally, these programmes should include research and training programmes, secondments and exchanges of staff charged with the prevention, detection and control of criminal offences. The UK will continue to support and work closely with law enforcement agencies within its Overseas Territories.

6.2 The UK and the Caribbean will continue to cooperate through the regular exchange of information on common security matters, including criminal deportations, illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition, trafficking of persons and narcotics, counter terrorism, cybercrime and other forms of transnational organized crime. The UK will continue to support Caribbean cyber security development initiatives.

6.3 The UK and the Caribbean countries commit to support the important work of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF). They further commit to continue working towards addressing any deficiencies identified against the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) global standards for combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) proliferation financing, in addition to collaborating on denying and depriving criminals of the proceeds of crime through robust asset recovery legislation, financial investigations and criminal prosecutions.

6.4 The UK will continue to provide humanitarian, military and technical support, both to plan for, and respond to natural disasters in the Overseas Territories and across the Caribbean. HM Royal Navy will continue to work in the region on counter-narcotics operations, counter-illicit trafficking operations, and on disaster relief, including hurricane response.

6.5 In recognising the important and complex interrelationship between international migration and development, as well as the need to deal with the challenges and opportunities that migration presents to countries of origin, transit and destination, the UK and the Caribbean undertake to have continued dialogue and to explore cooperation on these matters. The UK will continue to work closely with its Overseas Territories on international migration matters.

7. Immigration and Windrush

7.1 The UK commits to keeping both the Windrush Scheme and the Windrush Compensation Scheme open for as long as necessary, in order to provide documentation and compensation to those who need it.

7.2 The UK will pay individuals the maximum compensation at the earliest point possible through the Windrush Compensation Scheme, and will ensure that all those who need proof of their lawful status in the UK receive this under the Windrush Scheme.

7.3 The UK will continue to make every effort to right the wrongs of the Windrush scandal, including by continuing to deliver on the recommendations made in the Windrush Lessons Learned Review (Wendy Williams Report).

8. Energy and food and nutrition security

8.1 The UK and the Caribbean will collaborate to support the promotion of sustainable energy by addressing, institutional and capacity deficits through technical assistance, and investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Investment support will include development of geothermal, solar, green hydrogen and marine energy, such as offshore wind.

8.2 The UK and the Caribbean will advance efforts to mitigate the impact of disruptions to the global supply chains. The Parties further agreed to build resilient food systems, including promoting the CARICOM Agri-Food System Agenda to reduce the regional food import bill by 25 percent by the year 2025 and support small scale farmers and sustainable agricultural practices.

9. Reparatory justice

9.1 The UK and the Caribbean recognise the appalling atrocity that was the transatlantic slave trade, acknowledge the Ten Point Plan for Reparatory Justice developed by the CARICOM Reparations Commission and commit to further dialogue on the issue.

Promotion of common values and shared interests

10. Common values and shared interests

10.1 The UK undertakes to continue its current diplomatic presence in the Caribbean. This network will deliver aid commitments, including for the UK-Caribbean Infrastructure Fund, and support on climate resilience and disaster risk reduction; inclusive economic recovery; and governance and security.

10.2 The UK and Caribbean countries will consider and, whenever possible, support each other’s candidates for election to international bodies.

Kingston, Jamaica

18 May 2023