PRIME Minister P J Patterson, in acknowledging Cuba’s significant contribution to the countries of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in a variety of areas, says the time had come for member states to take steps that would ensure that the overall economic and social benefits to flow from sustained development in human capital are fully recognised in all countries.

Patterson was addressing the Second Caricom/Cuba Summit in Barbados on Thursday.

Patterson, according to a Jamaica House statement, stressed the importance of co-operation in the area of research and development and pointed to the need for the region to identify and engage in a process from which both Cuba and Caricom could benefit.

He commended the development of an action plan to guide the strengthening of co-operation between Caricom and Cuba, which he said should address the provision of the requisite resources to support its operation and should include the creation of the appropriate review mechanisms that would allow for changes in strategies whenever the need arises.

The action plan is expected to outline how the development needs of the region will be addressed, particularly in light of the advent of globalisation and the threat of global insecurity, as well as the vulnerability of the Caribbean to natural disasters.

“The strengthening of collaboration between Caricom and Cuba symbolises the commitment of the developing world to the deepening of South-South co-operation and must be regarded against the background of the first South/South Summit of the G-77 held in Havana in 2001,” said Patterson.

He said that summit constituted the platform on which developing countries were able to build at the Second South Summit in Doha, Qatar.

The main agenda item for the Second Caricom/Cuba Summit focused on strategies for advancing Caribbean human development with emphasis on education and training, poverty reduction, improved research and development and the effective use of science and technology.

Heads of government also engaged in a full discussion on co-operation in the health sector with particular emphasis on the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the region and the augmenting of the available pool of health care professionals including doctors and nurses, throughout the region.

The meeting also considered the recent World Trade Organisation’s ruling on the European Union Banana Protocol, as well as the EU’s decision to reduce the price of sugar to Caribbean producers and the impact this would have on the economies of the region.

The Caricom/Cuba Summit concluded with the signing of the Declaration of Bridgetown and a Cultural Co-operation Agreement between both parties.

The Declaration, among other things, reaffirmed the commitment of the countries of the Caribbean Community and Cuba to regional co-operation as one of the most effective strategies for confronting the challenges of sustainable development and promoting the welfare of the peoples of the region.

The Third Caricom/Cuba Summit will be held in Havana in December 2008.