Washington D.C. - On December 14, Ambassador Edmunds participated as a panelist on the webinar titled "US Entities involved in US-CARICOM Trade and Investment Policy".  A paper authored by Stephen Lande set the stage for engagement by the Ambassador, former US Ambassador Patrick Duddy of Duke University and Mr. Jason Marczak of the Atlantic Council.  The event was a collaboration between the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Shridath Ramphal Centre (SRC), The United States Embassy in Barbados and The Caribbean Policy Consortium (CPC). 
 
Ambassador Edmunds cautioned that while there is a need for a renewed US-Caribbean engagement in competitive industries such as services, and opportunities for nearshoring as the paper suggested, the overriding question to be answered is who will be the entity or entities advancing the Caribbean’s interest.  He highlighted that even though there is a new administration in Washington, the window for successful engagement is closing fast, considering the wide variety of global demands facing leadership in Washington - including a mid-term election on the horizon.  Any new effort at engagement must also not overlook existing arrangements that need funding and attention.  Further, that knowledge of and engagement beyond the multiple US government agencies usually involved is critical, notable is that Congress is too often overlooked by the region.  
 
The webinar can be found here and the discussion paper here. 

Washington D.C - December 6 – Saint Lucia was a featured speaker on the issue of migration during the recent OAS’ Inter-American Commission of Women event.  Saint Lucia’s Permanent Representative to the OAS, Ambassador Edmunds, joined representatives from Barbados, Costa Rica, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Panama and Trinidad & Tobago to discuss gender, migration and climate change.  A special presentation on the Impact of Women’s Leadership on Foreign Affairs in the Americas was delivered by Her Excellency, Sandra Honore, Former Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama and United Nations Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).

Saint Lucia’s intervention focused on certain misconceptions associated with migration within the Hemisphere – notably that it is mostly men who are migrating.  Ambassador Edmunds reported that the wider hemispheric numbers show only a slight majority of men versus women migrating and further, that women send the same percentage of money back as men.  Specific to the Caribbean, he highlighted that over half of migrants are women.  A specific reference was made to the loss of nurses within the Caribbean and the fact that the lack of an enabling environment and burdensome bureaucracy must be addressed to stem this flow.  Fundamentally, push dynamics that encourage migration continue to be crime, violence and economic issues which has been exacerbated by COVID-19.  Stiffening of border requirements and growing anti-immigrant sentiment in traditional host countries it was reported, do not seem to be slowing regular and irregular migration – highlighting local societal pressures.

On the issue of dangers of migration, Ambassador Edmunds highlighted the specific dangers that women face, and that the tendency of women to move with their children, makes them even more vulnerable to bad actors.  He also noted the lack of clarity in terms of migration policy within the region, and the fact that many countries do not have robust mechanisms to protect migrants and those who are victims of individuals involved in trafficking in persons.  The event can be found here.

Saint Lucia's Address to the 51st Regular Session of the General Assembly of the OAS

Washington D.C.- November 12 – Ambassador Anton Edmunds delivered remarks at the 51^st Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of the American States (OAS).  In his delivery, the Ambassador emphasized the value of the Organization’s work in the areas of climate change, education, human rights, hemispheric security, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME), all which Saint Lucia has benefited from.  Saint Lucia challenged the organization to view the tagline “Towards a Renewal in the Americas” as a call for member states to act as a collective and put an end to the hemisphere split that exists between the haves and the have-nots, a rift highlighted by the lack of access to vaccines to address the pandemic. 
 
Specific to the climate issue and the resulting environmental degradation undermining the livelihoods of the Caribbean community, Ambassador Edmunds lamented that the region appears to be relegated to the sidelines of humanity, noting that words of support are not being matched by action and access to financing.  Finally, again drawing reference to the theme of the General Assembly, he noted that any renewal for the Americas means that all must be held accountable to the pillars of the OAS.  Saint Lucia’s intervention can be found here (intervention at 3:08:34).

The General Assembly, which had traditionally been held in June, was held virtually for the second year, on November 10-12, due to the global pandemic brought on by COVID-19.   The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the Organization of American States (OAS), comprising all member states and determines the mechanisms, policies, actions, and mandates of the Organization focused on four main pillars: Democracy, Security, Human Rights and Development.